Schooner and Portland Observatory

Watercolor of a black schooner in Portland Harbor with the Portland Observatory in the background. Watercolor painting by Dominic White
Watercolor painting of a schooner in Portland Harbor (Maine) sailing past the Portland Observatory on Munjoy Hill.
Schooner and Portland Observatory“, 2014. 24″x18” watercolor and graphite on panel.

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Original Artwork

The original artwork is For Sale for $1500.00.

  • The artwork includes white wood frame.
    (Painting is protected with multiple coats of varnish and is framed without glass)
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Prints Available

Purchase “Schooner and Portland Observatory” prints online at my official print site, fineartnewengland.pixels.com.

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This painting depicts the schooner Bagheera sailing past Munjoy Hill in Portland, Maine’s harbor about to take a tour of Casco Bay. The Bagheera is owned and operated by the Portland Schooner Company. It was built in 1924 for a private owner in Rhode Island and eventually wound up in Portland, Maine. Despite being 101 years old, she is still taking tourists on sailing trips around Casco Bay.

In the background is the Munjoy Hill neighborhood, also known as the East End. The building that looks like a lighthouse on top of the hill is actually the only remaining maritime observatory still standing in the U.S. It was built in 1807. It’s function was to alert dock workers which sailing merchant vessles were approaching, thus speeding up the unloading and reloading of the ships.

I live near the Observatory and go walking on the waterfront as often as I can. At least once a Summer I ride one of the Casco Bay ferries so I can enjoy being out on the water. The reference photos for this painting were taken during one of those ferry rides in 2014.

I’m glad I painted this when I did because the two large brick warehouse buildings near the water on the right side of the painting have since been torn down.

Original Painting

The original painting of Schooner and Portland Observatory is done on 18×24 inch panel. It was painted with a technique of using multiple watercolor washes over a detailed pencil drawing.