Howard Rogers – Maritime Artist and Renaissance Man
Twenty-one years ago, the bridge over Spa Creek that connects Annapolis to Eastport, Maryland was closed for needed repairs. The bridge is the main connection between Annapolis and Eastport and having it closed insured that an economic loss was certain. A group of sailors and such all got together and decided to secede from Annapolis and the Maritime Republic of Eastport was born. (Google it for more information about the MRE). It was about this time that we first met Howard Rogers and learned of his colorful Raven Maritime Studio in Eastport. Progress claimed his studio years ago and Howard moved his residence and studio to 278 Hillsmere Drive just outside of Eastport but not far enough that he can’t ride is bike to his favorite mid-week happy hour at Davis Pub in Eastport.Twenty-one years ago, the bridge over Spa Creek that connects Annapolis to Eastport, Maryland was closed for needed repair. The bridge is the chief connection between Annapolis and Eastport and having it closed insured that an economic loss was certain. A group of sailors and such all got together and decided to secede from Annapolis and the Maritime Republic of Eastport was born. ( Google it for more information about the MRE ). It was about this time that we first met Howard Rogers and learned of his colorfulin Eastport. Progress claimed his studio years ago and Howard moved his residency and studio to 278 Hillsmere Drive fair outside of Eastport but not far adequate that he can ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate ride is bike to his favorite mid-week happy hour at Davis Pub in Eastport.
recently we caught up with Howard at his weekend retreat, Ebb Tide Tavern, a short distance from his new digs…and yes, he came by bicycle. There are some people that you meet in life sentence that are actually larger than liveliness, and Howard, standing at 5 ’ 3 ½ ’ ’ and weighing 118 pounds, is larger than life .
Howard is from Kent, a humble town confederacy of London. He had learned the craft of ship joiner, but work was hard to find then he decided to migrate to the USA. “ It is a dear deal, but cipher wanted me, then I developed an overwhelm desire to get the hell out of England, ” he tells me. He arrived in the waterfront town of Urbana, Virginia and found work at a local boatyard. “ I put my trade wind to use and started build boats, ” he says .
In 1971 Howard returned to England and got married at the good old age of 26. “ She was old ”, he says, “ she was 19. ” In 1972 the newlyweds returned to Deltaville and Howard resumed his boat build career and braving the cold winters with his new bride. In 1976 the couple divorced, and his wife returned to England .
From 1975 to 1977 Howard found himself living on a 60-foot boat along the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. “ I have slept many a nox on a gravy boat, ” he tells me. “ The winters can be pretty cold. ” “ I once had a snowmobile befit that was then quick you could sleep naked in the lawsuit and still be warm. ” From Washington, D.C. Howard found his way to Annapolis, Maryland .
Looking for a position to stay he discovered the now deserted Trumpy boatyard where the world class wooden yachts were built. “ I found a 23 ’ Seafarer sailboat to live on, ” he says. “ it was an testis shell of a boat… I froze my buttocks off that first winter. ” The Chart House restaurant began construction of their Annapolis property soon after and Howard had to move. “ I found a board firm where the Boatyard Bar & Grill is nowadays and secured a room for $ 50 a month, ” he says .
About this time Howard returned to his natural talent of drawing and painting and turning his boat build up skills into Incise and Bas-Relief carve. “ I have always had the ability to draw and paint, ” he tells me. “ I enjoy it, specially on a cold showery day. ” You can tell the choice and skill in his playpen and ink and watercolor pieces. “ You know, ” he says, “ a paint is never done…you precisely stop. ” He besides crafts his frames by handwriting. If you have a firearm of his art, you in truth have a oeuvre done from the heart .
Fleming Yachts noticed the choice of Howard ’ randomness make and hired him to do all the main boards and quarter boards for their yachts. quarter boards are handsomely carved and gilded ornamental gestural boards, originally made for the ships whose names they bore. They are sometimes referred to as sternboards, the deviation being the location on the ship .
Over fourth dimension, Howard weaved his way into the framework that is Eastport. As most of you know, the Annapolis/Eastport area is celebrated for its global classify sailors and peculiarly the Wednesday night races and in winter, the frost bite race. Where Ruth Chris Steakhouse is in Eastport, there once was the celebrated Marmaduke ’ randomness Pub and the home of Wednesday night racing. From the late 80 ’ south to the mid 90 ’ s Howard shot the movies from the camera boat filming the races and then showing them late that evening at Marmaduke ’ second where all the sailors would go. today, that footage is shot with Drones .
At historic period 74 Howard is beginning to slow down a fiddling. He has no plans to retire… ” I like what I do, and I like to stay busy. ” Living off social security system, a modest savings and little jobs, he must stay busy. He has a set of art stored away and would like to do an artwork show. We have encouraged him in this attempt and are on the research for a venue and a time for a wake of Howard ’ s classical art. If anyone has any ideas, give us a exclaim .
Howard is a homo of the times looking into the future .
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