This vertical image looks back to the Public Landing of Cincinnati and Mt. Adams as they appeared in the late 1920’s. In the foreground the little Packet steamer Betsy Ann casts an admiring eye of illumination toward the majestic profile of the steamer Queen City. The famed Captain Frederick Way Jr. was owner of the Betsy Ann at the time. After losing his beloved steamer to a sheriff's sale in 1932, Capt. Way sat down and wrote an all time river classic titled Log of the Betsy Ann. This story of life on the river won the New York Literary Guild Award and went into six printings. It was his first book!
In the coming years he wrote many additional insightful river classics including Pilotin’ Comes Natural, Saga of the Delta Queen and the monolithic river reference guide Way’s Packet Directory. This directory details the careers, service and dates of thousands of Western River steamboats and the men who ran them. Many of the boats have grand little essays detailing personal information. In some cases these little essays become miniature literary masterpieces. Such is the case with the last paragraph on the Queen City. (4615). This short essay may be found in my commentary section of www.blaserstudio.com
Michael Blaser knew Capt Way in the last years of his long and productive life. This essay and many more like it have been literary paint for the artists brush for 30 plus years. It is worth the read if you fancy yourself a student of the river.
Oil on canvas mounted on birch panel.
Sized 30 x 40 inches
English Tea Clippers Loading Tea Below Foochow In 1868
"In the long story of men and ships there was an age that rose like a rocket, burst in the night with a brilliance that illuminated the world, then sank into the gloom of history." -The Artist 2005
Ariel and Taeping went over the Min River bar on the same tide and sailed (raced) to the London docks within several hours of eachother. The race took 99 days.
Oil on linen mounted on shellacked birch panel.
Image size 36 x 48 inches
Summer Night's Light
"The same moon still reflects over Cleveland's lake front. Most all else is lost except the familiar outline of Terminal Tower. The magnificent lake steamers Goodtime and Seeandbee belong to what F. Scott Fitzgerald called the "Jazz Age." The steam mechanics and subtle vibration of their huge sidewheels were silenced forever by the outset of World War II. A distant echo of this great age lives on in today's dinner cruise boat Goodtime III.
Oil on canvas mounted on birch panel.
Image size 30 x 48 inches
Tall Stacks 2006
It's an event like none other in the nation. Tall Stacks has become the premier river celebration in American bringing in over 1 million visitors and 20 boats.
We pay homage to Cincinnati's rich river legacy for she is inextricably linked to the steamboat era that transformed her into the powerful city of trade and commerce that we know today.
Oil on canvas mounted on shellacked birch panel
Image Size: 30 x 48 inches
The painting shows the Davenport Levee as it existed in 1952. This was the last year for the levee as it is shown in the painting. In the fall of 1952, the City of Davenport built a facing sea wall.
The steamer to the left of the painting is the Gordon C. Greene. She made her last trip to the Upper Mississippi in 1952. The steamer on the right hand side is the steamer Avalon. She is still afloat today under the name Belle of Louisville.
Oil on canvas mounted on a shellacked birch panel.
Image Size: 20 x 40 inches
Moonlight cruises on the Island Queen are still remembered by many folks in Cincinnati. The memory of big band music, dancing and Coney Island still live on.
Oil on canvas mounted on a shellacked birch panel.
Image Size: 14 x 18 inches
The artist would like to hear your comments.
Contact Michael Blaser at 1-800-383-0669 or e-mail at blasergmsail@aol.com.
