Neil Harpe artist

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neil_harpe

Two skipjacks - Minnie V and Ellsworth. Choptank R Two skipjacks - Minnie V and Ellsworth. Choptank River circa 1985
The skipjack Nellie L. Byrd and workboats fill the The skipjack Nellie L. Byrd and workboats fill the Annapolis City Dock, circa 1985.
Instagram post 18071344538205251 Instagram post 18071344538205251
About a year ago I got a deal on a 1933 Kalamazoo About a year ago I got a deal on a 1933 Kalamazoo tenor (4-string) guitar, which has a 23" scale. I got this guitar with the idea of re-necking it and creating a short scale 6-string. A year later, success!
About 20 years ago I did this watercolor of the fr About 20 years ago I did this watercolor of the frame bugeye "Lizzie J. Cox". She was long gone by then. I based my painting on old photographs and a scale model of her.
"Hellhounds on my Trail", pen & ink with sepia was "Hellhounds on my Trail", pen & ink with sepia wash, 9" x 9".
A photo I took of Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse shor A photo I took of Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse shortly before being moved to Baltimore's Inner Harbor, from her original home at the mouth of the Patapsco River. I took some shots of the Craighill Channel Lower Range Front Light located nearby. It was a little bit choppy out in the Bay, as you can see!
"Howard", watercolor on cold pressed Twin Rocker p "Howard", watercolor on cold pressed Twin Rocker paper, 12" x 15". This painting was done from photographs I shot from the deck of the Sigsbee in the fall of 1984. It shows skipjack Howard dredging for oysters on the Choptank River off Howell's Point. The Howard is numbered among the skipjacks that are no longer with us.
I composed my recent watercolor by taking elements I composed my recent watercolor by taking elements from a photograph of the Wilma Lee that I shot from the deck of the Sigsbee back in 1984. I brought the Wilma closer and added detail to the land in the background - and of course added color, since the original photo was shot in black & white.
Wilma Lee, watercolor, 18" x 12" Wilma Lee, watercolor, 18" x 12"
New watercolor of the skipjack Wilma Lee is beginn New watercolor of the skipjack Wilma Lee is beginning to take shape.
Beginning stages of a new watercolor. I'm working Beginning stages of a new watercolor. I'm working from a black & white photo I shot from the deck of the Sigsbee in 1984, of the skipjack Wilma Lee dredging oysters out om the Choptank.
The pungy schooner "Lady Maryland" on the Patapsco The pungy schooner "Lady Maryland" on the Patapsco River, circa 1988. Key Bridge can be faintly seen on the far right horizon.
In 2008 I received a dream assignment! Noted jazz In 2008 I received a dream assignment! Noted jazz writer Ted Gioia commissioned me to do a series of portraits for his book, "Delta Blues".
In 1996 I began a series of graphite (pencil) draw In 1996 I began a series of graphite (pencil) drawings commemorating the prewar blues artists whose music I love. I didn't want to simply copy old photographs of them. That had already been done. Instead, I wanted to create an imaginary "moment in time", a fresh, never before seen portrait - using old photos simply as a source to gain likenesses. Over the years, some of these images have found their way to the Internet (often with no credit given). Sometimes they are even mistaken for actual photographs of these individuals!
I did this drawing depicting Mississippi John Hurt I did this drawing depicting Mississippi John Hurt, entitled "Coffee Blues", more than 25 years ago.
Back in the day, I had numerous illustration gigs Back in the day, I had numerous illustration gigs at various graphics firms around D.C. We used to call these companies: "Beltway Bandits". Mostly, I worked on boring stuff like charts and viewgraphs. But occasionally, I'd get a more interesting assignment, like this painting I did in 1983 that appeared on the cover of a brochure for NAVSEA.
"Dredging for Oysters", lithograph, 7" x 10" "Dredging for Oysters", lithograph, 7" x 10"
Twenty years ago, I was commissioned by Naval Acad Twenty years ago, I was commissioned by Naval Academy graduate John Scanlan to illustrate his book: "Dink-Gadink". Told from a humorous perspective and based on real events and personal experiences, the book chronicles a week in the life of seven plebes at the U.S. Naval Academy.
"Patent Tongs", lithograph, 10" x 7". This image w "Patent Tongs", lithograph, 10" x 7". This image was part of a suite of drawings I did in 1990 to illustrate the book "Working the Chesapeake", by Mark E. Jacoby.
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