Jay Koka ORIGINALS: Marine Themed Art
Greavette at Gravenhurst | Barrel Back at Mystic | Madeleine | Before the Railing | 812 and Zeelander | Pedrazzini Werft | 356 at Pedrazzini Werft | Longtails in Phuket | Sweet Rides | Streamliner (Greavette)
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Greavette at Gravenhurst
Title: "Greavette at Gravenhurst"
by Jay Koka, © 2022
44”w x 34” (110x85cm), acrylic on canvas, with the studio
This new original work features an early Doug Van Patten design Greavette 24 Foot Streamliner. This beautiful craft is an excellent example of the design of the era and a perfect representation of Canadian craftsmanship.
The setting is the Gravenhurst Ontario harbor with its iconic steamships in the background... the 130 year old historic steamship R.M.S. Segwun and the modern replica steamship Wenonah II. Built in 1887, Segwun is North America's oldest operating steamship and was originally designated a Royal Mail Ship. Wenonah II, was launched in 2002 and combines turn-of-the-century charm with modern conveniences.
Image publishing information coming soon.
Barrel Back at Mystic
Title: "Barrel Back at Mystic"
by Jay Koka, © 2022
30”w x 44” (75x110cm), acrylic on canvas, with the studio
The iconic Chris Craft custom runabout was produced from 1939 to 1942, with a total of 433 hulls produced. It is said that the Barrel Back represented the highest level of craftsmanship Chris Craft ever offered because it required skilled craftsmen to produce the full half circle transom shape.
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The craft presented in this new original work is a 1940 Chris Craft 19ft Custom Runabout Barrel Back model featuring fold down Bugatti style windshields.
The setting is Mystic Harbor in Mystic CT, USA.
Image publishing information coming soon.
Madeleine
Title: "Madeleine"
by Jay Koka, © 2022
44”w x 26” (110x65cm), acrylic on canvas, in Studio
Although "Madeleine" has the style of a hundred years past, it is only a few years old having been constructed in 2011.
The recent "Before the Railing" painting of the 1921 Ditchburn sent me to research a bit about the Ditchburn story. In the process, I came across "Madeleine" and I was immediately captured. The "Ditchburn" style rear exhaust ports caught my eye and appreared to place the boat into the same era.
"Madeleine" is a modern custom-designed 30 ft speedster built by Van Dam Boats located in Boyne City, Michigan, USA. "Madeleine" is currently in a private collection in California.
Image publishing information coming soon.
Before the Railing
Title: "Before the Railing"
by Jay Koka, © 2022
44”w x 22” (110x55cm), acrylic on canvas, in Studio
The title of the work is a play on the "B-IV" on the hull...
The painting features the exceptional "gentleman's racer" "B-IV" - 1921 28'6" Ditchburn powered by Gale Banks 8 cylinder/ 850 hp. A superb example of a wooden boat from one hundred years ago.
Ditchburn Pleasure Boats Ltd was established in 1871 on Lake Muskoka (Ontario, Canada) by Henry Ditchburn to build wooden pleasure boats and launches.
Joined by his brothers, William, John, and Arthur began by building wooden rowboats in Lake Rosseau, and moved to in Gravenhurst, Ontario, in 1890. The company began building gasoline launches in 1898.
Image publishing information coming soon.
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(Ferrari) 812 and Zeelander
at Portofino
Title: "(Ferrari) 812 and Zeelander at Portofino"
by Jay Koka, © 2022
36”w x 48” (90x120cm), acrylic on canvas, Private Collection
The setting is the much admired and very beautiful harbor of Portofino, located in the Italian Riviera region of northwest Italy.
Jay Koka" Although I am enamored of wooden boats, the Zeelander presents to me a shape that is irresistible. It is in so many ways almost "car-like" in its overall shape and layout and serves as a perfect companion to the Ferrari 812 on shore. This yacht is a Zeelander 44."
Visitors to the Studio site are well familiar with Ferrari and all the latest models including the 812. Boatbuilder Zeelander was established in the Netherlands in 2003, engineering and creating high-end motor yachts to the very high standards. www.zeelander.com
NOTE: The original painting was altered on sale: the country flag has been changed and the boat name has been applied to the stern. Reproductions are as originally painted as shown here.
The print is a signed, open edition, reduced size 32w x 42" on canvas edition.
Pedrazzini Werft
Title: "Pedrazzini Werft"
by Jay Koka, © 2021
60”w x 60” (150x150cm), acrylic on canvas, Private Collection
a stunning 25 SQ FT original work
A privately commissioned original painting, this very large work features the Pedrazzini Werft on Lake Zürich with three of the company's famous hand-crafted boats.
Begun by Augusto Pedrazzini in 1906, the boatyard is now run by third generation Claudio Pedrazzini who carries on the family's passion and meticulous hand built care. Pedrazzini's craftsmen need 1,800 to 4,000 man-hours (six to nine months) to build a single runabout. Mahogany, teak, burl...handmade fittings...there is an obsessive attention to quality and detail. And it shows. Not to mention - they are drop-dead gorgeous. Like wooden boats? check it out...
» pedrazziniyacht.com
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356 at Pedrazzini Werft
Title: "356 at Pedrazzini Werft"
by Jay Koka, © 2021
34”w x 44” (85x110cm), acrylic on canvas, Private Collection
The setting is the famous Pedrazzini Yacht-und Bootswerft in Bach on the shore of Lake Zurich, Switzerland.
Jay Koka" This wonderful work unites two of my favorite things: a classic Porsche and wooden boats. Since 1991 and my "wooden body" painting of the 1939 Lagonda Rapide Tulipwood boatail titled "Wooden Rocket", I have much enjoyed the creation of work involving "wood". I was thrilled when approached by a longtime collector to execute this work. There's not much I can add to the volumes that have been published about the iconic 356 so we will expand a bit on boatbuilder Pedrazzini."
Begun by Augusto Pedrazzini in 1906, the boatyard is now run by third generation Claudio Pedrazzini who carries on the family's passion and meticulous hand built care. Pedrazzini's craftsmen need 1,800 to 4,000 man-hours (six to nine months) to build a single runabout. Mahagony, teak, burl...handmade fittings...there is an obsessive attention to quality and detail. And it shows. Not to mention - they are drop-dead gorgeous. Like wooden boats? check it out...
» www.pedrazziniboat.com
A major privately commissioned original work. Not published.
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Longtails in Phuket
Title: "Longtails in Phuket"
by Jay Koka, © 2021
44”w x 34” (110x85cm), acrylic on canvas, Artist Collection
The COVID19 outbreak of 2020 created opportunities to create fine art work that is not directly related to automobiles. The cancellation of all major shows resulted in much welcomed time to explore these themes as well as painting "styles".
A 2017 trip to the Thai peninsula resulted in first, the 2018 painting "Welcome to Patong Beach" and now "Longtails in Phuket".
The magnificent beach and nearby dock is crowded with these boats called "long-tails". Named because of the exceptionally long drive shaft leading to the prop...as much as 2 meters or more...creating the appearance of a "tail" while in motion. The engine (with prop shaft) can be rotated 180 degrees as shown in this work to store the assembly while docked.
This wide arc of motion also makes them exceptionally maneuverable. The engines are mainly secondhand car and truck engines making purchase and ongoing maintenance economical. Hugely popular, they are not however unique to Thailand, seen throughout Southeast Asia.
COLOR PROOF AVAILABLE »
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Sweet Rides
Title: "Sweet Rides
by Jay Koka, © 2004
24”w x 18” (60x45cm), acrylic on tempered masonite, Private Collection
This painting captures the convergence of three very "sweet rides" and combines a "few of my favorite things"... ...a Ferrari Daytona Coupe and two wonderful Greavettes. The words "rakish lines" had to have been invented for the boat on the left. I can't possibly add anything new to the comments that have been made on the Daytona so I'll just mention that the two fabulous boats are from Greavette.
Long a fan of wooden boats, I was surprised to find that some of the very best were built not 200 miles from my home in the Muskoka lakes region. Greavette Boats of Gravenhurst Ontario Canada built boats from 1936 to the 50's. Thankfully many survive to this day and cruise the Muskoka lakes to the enjoyment of all.
COLOR PROOF AVAILABLE »
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Streamliner
Title: "Streamliner" (Greavette)
by Jay Koka, © 2004
18”w x 24” (45x60cm), acrylic on tempered masonite, Private Collection
Again, long a fan of wooden boats, I was surprised to find that some of the very best were built not 200 miles from my home in the Muskoka lakes region. Greavette Boats of Gravenhurst Ontario Canada built boats from 1936 to the 50's. Thankfully many survive to this day and cruise the Muskoka lakes to the enjoyment of all. This painting was created at the same time as "Sweet Rides" because I simply could not resist the spectacular wood work.