This is the latest addition to my Bosun's Mate's series. When looking at the source photo for this sketch, you see an UNREP being conducted with three ships. This is a very complicated maneuver in which mistakes can cost people their lives or seriously damage the ships. The Deck Division guys in the photo seem very alert, maybe even tense- but totally focused on the ship next to them. As I was looking at the photo, my eye wandered and picked up an incongruous shape on the gun mount. It was barely noticeable at first, but when I saw it I couldn't help but laugh. It was probably one of the most important weapon components on a naval vessel...a stainless steel coffee travel mug. Recently I was reading Robert Kaplan's "Hog Pilots and Blue Water Grunts" in which he interviewed a Chief on a destroyer who said something to the effect of, "In the Age of Sail the Navy used to give sailors free rum. Now it's free coffee.". Well. if our Navy runs on coffee, I suppose it's best that they keep it on hand everywhere.
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Haha! yep the ships do run on coffee these days. Nice spotting of the mug. I like the shading on the guys legs.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment!
ReplyDeletemmm! I love this image! love the quality of your lines, the shading...it is very tactile, so textured. The water has a beautiful woodcut look, and I love how it stands apart from the ship. You do water well!!!
ReplyDeleteMan,I sure wish someone would sketch a sketch of a guy with liberty cuffs like Steve McQueen in the "Sand Pebbles"Reliable and Franks across from the Bklyn navy yard was the place to go for liberty cuffs,or was,up until bout 2005.Then they moved to jersey
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea Anon.
ReplyDeleteEver see this site?: http://www.navydp.com/NavyCollector/Navy_Traditions.htm
Great liberty cuffs there...