CRAB CARCASSES

Pair of Crabs oil on birch panel (8" x 16") 2017

At least once in a season we have a crab feast with friends and family on our patio. There are always a few, unmolested, left-over bodies and what the chef does not use for soup I save for my models  in the studio. I carefully wrap them in foil and put into the freezer. This pair here that I saved is about three years old. They are getting so brittle and faded that I might need a new gang. The one on the left you might recognize from some of my Old Bay and Crab painting. He was splendid. But now I only want to paint them without the props. Here's another posing solo below.

"Solo Crab" oil on birch panel ( 6" x 12") 2016

It's Pretty Crabby Around Here

This past weekend I felt very crabby. So I painted a leftover crustacean from a crab feast. He'd been in the freezer for a few weeks. Then I searched my collection of Maryland tin cans and found one with a crab on the front of it. This crab meat was from Cambridge, MD. The packing company is named Epicure which is still in business. It's nearly impossible to find tin containers of crab meat. Everything I see in the stores is plastic. So I'm  glad to have found this one at a flea market. Remember, if it's not Maryland crab meat, it won't taste as good. And included here below are the paintings I did over the weekend.

"Loner Crab" oil on panel (6" x 12") 2015

"Epicure Crab Meat" oil on panel, (6" x 8") 2015

VINTAGE OCEAN CITY FISHING

"Vintage Ocean City Fishing" 2014 (24" x 36")  mixed media

The fishing in Ocean City, Maryland can be, at times, superb. There are tournaments in the White Marlin Capital of the World featuring deep sea fishing for the aforementioned Marlin and a variety of big game fish including tuna and sharks. But for most of us we like to putt-putt in a little motor boat to catch some pan-size fish like perch or some blue crabs for a proudly-caught, home-made meal. As you enter OC from Route 50, the bridge is usually lined with fishermen and women of all sizes and shapes. They always appear to be intently focused on their task at hand. Thinking of this reminds to to say that if you don't want to own or rent a boat you can usually find a spot on one of the many piers located on the island. There are many on the bay side and of course the grand pier on the Atlantic side.
 In my extensive collection of vintage Del-Mar-Va ephemera I noticed that the fishing category deserved a collage of its own. There are tide tables and fishing tips as well as photos of the Bunting fishing boats. I've also included images of some of my fishing lure paintings and of course our Maryland steamed crabs. Posters of the collage are now for sale in my Etsy shop for those who would like to purchase one on line.

FRESH FRENCH FISH

"Merlan Brilliant" oil on canvas (16" x 12") 2013

Some of my favorite places to explore when we visit La Belle France are the markets. The produce, meat and fish are artistically arranged making them nearly irresistible. The creative layouts entice one to paint their bright colors and unusual shapes. As we move among the colorful ambiance of the stalls, making purchases for dinner, I am all the while taking pictures of the amazing variety of fish, fruit, vegetables, eggs and meat. The vendors are very friendly and eager to make a sale so they are proud to have their wares photographed.

France is on my mind as we recently said good-bye to six Parisian  house guests aged two to 52.  The two older children were keen to practice their English and soak up the teenage music and fashion.  I  secretly wished that we had beautiful markets to show off  but our guests were delighted to be in the United States and dine on Baltimore's famous steamed crabs. In fact it was a request that they made. I was impressed by how naturally the younger ones just took to the crustaceans. You see, where they come from it is not abnormal to be served your dinner with the head still attached! When you dine with the French there is never a wasted piece of food! Everything gets used.

"Rouget Barbet avec Herbs" oil on canvas (9" x 12") 2013

"Poissons sur Glace"  oil on canvas (14" x 23") 2013

OLD BAY & NATTY BOH

©2011 CHARLENE CLARK
“Old Bay and Natty Boh and News”  2011
oil paint on board (16” x 20”)

As a collector of McCormick and other brands of spice tins, from time to time I like to compare the old to the new. The 1950 container of  Old Bay Seafood Seasoning (included in the painting above) features a crab, a shrimp and a lobster on the cardboard package topped by a golden tin lid. Baltimore Spice Company is given credit as the manufacturer since McCormick did not yet have the label. At some point the Old Bay label changed from “Seafood Seasoning” to “Seasoning for Seafood, Poultry, Salads and Meats." Look for yourself, it’s there on your pantry shelf now with a red plastic lid. National Bohemian beer bottles have changed, too. I have a few of the early rocket style bottles (one included here in the painting).  Mister Boh has evolved from a vague, one-eyed, yet fully mustachioed, character to a much bolder graphic version of himself. Even though our hometown beer, brewed on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, moved out of state several years ago, the loyal following remains in Baltimore. In fact the Boh-mania among young people seems stronger than ever.  We just love our steamed crabs and beer !