A blue trawler with red fenders is docked against a pier in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, in John Michael Carter’s painting, “Fishing Boat.” While visiting his friend on island a couple of years ago, Carter took advantage of the beautiful weather and found himself down by the water. “A day next to the harbor is a pretty nice place to be outdoors,” he said, when we spoke over the phone. Carter’s work captures the atmosphere of the island, with pastels hues of the water, the blue sky and the colorful homes that dot the shoreline. “Fishing Boat” is serene scene, an idyllic summer day in Vineyard Haven.
Born in Chicago in 1950, Carter grew up drawing under the guidance of his illustrator father, E.L. After high school, Carter attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago and later attended the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. After receiving his B.F.A. in 1972, he began showing his work in galleries across the country, which also led him to find new subject matter.
While much of his work is portraiture, Carter has also been drawn to street scenes and landscapes, particularly as he traveled to places like Spain, Mexico, Italy, Budapest and Ireland. “Fishing Boat” is different from most of Carter’s work. “I’m always enticed by a nice vessel with great lines,” he said.
While his work is American Postwar and Contemporary, he utilizes some Impressionist style to create an air of nostalgia that draws viewers into the scene. The hues in “Fishing Boat” are cool, and while we can assume this is a summer day, the color scheme suggests that the temperature isn’t particularly hot. The painting proposes a temperate day in early summer with a little breeze. Carter’s work can make an old fishing boat seem soft and light, even with her old fenders and rusted pilothouse. He uses his unique talent and skill to capture a subject we can all appreciate: a boat with great lines. — Lidia Goldberg
This article was originally published in the July 2023 issue.
