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It docked alongside the Hammerhead Crane, so was difficult to ignore.
On its hull was the number "10" and the name "U.S. Coast Guard" written in white block letters.
It was the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter "Polar Star", one of the world's most powerful icebreakers making a port call in Sydney before it transits to conduct a rescue mission in the Antarctic.
This heavy icebreaker cut short its Sydney visit to go to the rescue of 2 ships stuck in the Antarctic ice - the Russian research ship 'Akademik Shokalskiy' which has been trapped in ice-clogged Commonwealth Bay since Christmas Eve, as well as the Chinese ship which came to its rescue, 'Xue Long' ( 'Snow Dragon' in Chinese) and had also become stuck nearby.
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Holding up my painting of 'U.S. Coastguard Cutter "Polar Star" arriving at Garden Island' 2014 oil on canvas 20 x 25cm |
Fortunately I always carry a selection of small canvases, just in case I need to capture an unexpected moment.
I painted a 20 x 25cm small horizontal canvas of the Polar Star's arrival at Garden Island, with the crescent of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background partially hidden by the trees of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Mrs Macquarie's Chair.
I also managed to finish a 15 x 30cm tiny panoramic canvas of the Polar Star docked beside the Hammerhead Crane before her departure for Antarctica on the morning of Sunday 5th January.
And I work fast.
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On my easel is my half finished panoramic painting of 'U.S. Coastguard Cutter "Polar Star" at Garden Island' 2014 oil on canvas 30 x 153cm Enquiries |
I started an ambitious panorama showing the "Polar Star" beneath the Hammerhead Crane on the left, while on the right is a glimpse of the HMAS Sydney behind some dock buildings and an old crane.
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On my easel is my half finished panoramic painting of 'U.S. Coastguard Cutter "Polar Star" at Garden Island' 2014 oil on canvas 30 x 153cm Enquiries |
I knew I wouldn't have time to finish this painting before the "Polar Star" left for its Antarctic rescue mission, but I have enough information from the 2 small studies I painted earlier to be able to complete it.
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| On my easel is my half finished panoramic painting of 'U.S. Coastguard Cutter "Polar Star" at Garden Island' 2014 oil on canvas 30 x 153cm Enquiries |
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