London

The thatched roof cottages of rural England have charmed and intrigued me; the splendid manor houses scattered throughout the countryside have tantalized me with their taste of noble living. But I have never before painted the great English metropolis, the bustling, light-filled jewel of nostalgia and history that is London.

London is the rarest of contemporary cities – at once rich with picturesque landmarks and invigorated by modern energies, I set up my easel at just this spot to capture its two faces. I painted within the shadows of Westminster Bridge, ancient and massive, while a regal sunset illuminated the reflections of the House of Parliament and the Tower of Big Ben in the silvery water of the Thames.

A stately old tugboat passed by as I painted and I decided to include it in my London. I had some fun with the river, hiding the periscope of a vintage submarine in its depths – perhaps an outgrowth of my recent readings regarding London’s participation as our ally during the war my father fought in – World War II. And does that bottle bobbing under the bridge hold a love letter to my wife Nanette, or is it instead a love letter to this glorious city?