Charles Vickery

Charles Vickery, one of the outstanding marine artists of the twentieth century, passed away in 1998. In his lifetime, he saw his works grace the walls of galleries, embassies, and private residences. Praised by the critics, he has been called one of the best painters of the sea; but Charles Vickery, in his own words, was a devoted student of the subject. "I became interested in seascapes right out of high school," Mr. Vickery said, "I would haunt the galleries and marvel at the success of the pros - Frederick Waugh, Montague Dawson...Lake Michigan was a big source of instruction. Then I went to the East Coast and learned the same laws are in effect in the Atlantic. In my early 50's, I took a freighter trip to as far as Turkey. I got a lot of wild, stormy effects of the ocean. Many of the 19th Century marine artists were a little too stiff. No sense of water. I don't know what marked the beginning of reality...maybe Winslow Homer." Issued in very small number editions, Vickery prints of the lake shores and tall ships sell out very quickly, and once on the secondary market, they appreciate even more rapidly. We are glad to have several of Mr. Vickery's wonderful works here at By The Bay.