About this artwork
Alfred Wallis was a fisherman and didn't start painting until he was in his 60s.
His wife had died and to relieve his loneliness he began to paint using old house-paints,
boat-paints and yacht varnish onto odd bits of driftwood and cardboard. His paintings
were about his life at sea and the place where he lived - St Ives. He wasn't schooled
and never trained as an artist so his paintings are very child-like.
This painting shows an old ship sailing on a very stormy
night. The ship is climbing a massive wave. He has painted the sea brown! This
might not be your first choice if you were painting the sea but remember Alfred
Wallis was a fisherman and may have been on this ship - try and imagine what it
must have been like for him.
For your story you could think about where this ship is going,
where it has come from, and what cargo it is carrying. Who could be onboard? Pirates
maybe? Or tired fishermen on their way home with a great catch of mackerel.
This painting is on display at Tate St Ives until 15 January
2006.
This text was written by Kathryn Brian, age 15, who is doing
a work placement at Tate St Ives. She also selected the painting.
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