While hiking the Mississippi shore near Memphis during Corps of Engineer days in the service, I came upon this moored U.S. Coast Guard cutter, a stern-wheeler, named "Willow". I sketched it, noting its details and colors, and finished making the painting after leaving the service.

There's peace in hearing the water lapping on the hull, the river sliding on the paddle wheel, the quiet of the evening, and then it happens. You hear the Steam Calliope. You are back in the days of old. One is at peace in painting this scene.

There is such charm at seashore. Maine is the place to be. Whether in the cupola of the Captain´s home or in a fishing boat, we can find this charm. Even when the tide is out, we wait for the next one.

The fishing boat of early 1900 was right there before the eyes, and what a sight to see moored just below. Her lines are beautiful, her deck strewn for work, and yet she is still ready for her next trip. New England has a way of getting hold of you.

Nantucket, Massachusetts is a real joy. It is over 50 miles away from Cap Cod. The Ferry takes one there, along with shingles and supplies when needed. Streets of cobblestones greet you. It´s because they come from the ocean. Whales were its industry.

The Grand Tetons are one of a kind. Mountains rise up so high behind lakeshores. Even in summer there can be snow. Breathtaking to see, views are unending. Where does one find so much beauty to paint?

Seeing this boathouse on a New England shore was intriguing. Fishing boats with sails and motors well fitted. She was moored next to a boathouse, wooden wharf and dock as pretty as you please.

"From an oil painting by HAL MORRIS, my father. He lived along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. He rode on many of these stern-wheelers. He lived it. He even included a separate map of the great race of the "Natchez and the Robert E. Lee".

The Panama Canal was dug and re-dug only by these big dredges and barges that could handle this type of work. Trains on the shore delivered the supplies. Crews from France and later the U.S. built this canal.