Homer Alaska - Arts -

"Following Sea" came about after Hughes and his student, longtime fisherman Jim Cobb, had been talking about the historic fishing photos displayed at Kachemak Gear Shed. Hughes has been painting fishing boats since he came to Homer in 1972, and put together enough paintings plus associated seascapes for a show.

"Wouldn't it be cool?" Hughes said of doing a show at the Gear Shed. "A lot of people may see art work who otherwise might not see it," he added.

Hughes loves painting boats in all their details, and some boats he loves so much he's painted a half-dozen times, like the Celtic, a 1929 wooden hulled tender. This show has two paintings of the Celtic, including one on loan from Homer writer Dana Stabenow. Stabenow lived on the Celtic growing up in Seldovia, and saw a painting Hughes had done of the Celtic for this year's Sea Festival a painting she told Hughes she had to have.

Cobb, 56, also knew the Celtic when he was growing up in Seldovia and lower Cook Inlet and Vern Savage ran the boat. Cobb, a lifelong artist, started taking classes with Hughes' Compass School of Arts to improve his craft.

"I would like to be an historical marine artist kind of record that which I can remember," Cobb said.

One of the things Cobb remembered was the Celtic, in exacting detail. He made a sketch of the boat, right down to the fittings.

"He has a virtual photographic memory of boat details and designs," Hughes said of Cobb. "When he drew this picture, I said, 'Jim, I've got to revisit this Celtic story,'" Hughes added.

Hughes and Cobb made a quick model of the Celtic for Hughes to use to make paintings of the boat.

Photo by Michael Armstrong Brad Hughes, left, and his student, Jim Cobb, right, look at a model of the Celtic they made at Hughes' studio.

At the Art Shop Gallery, Hughes has another show, "Ari Kindrajil," several cast sculptures from the same form, an exotic, Celtic themed mermaid. Hughes started the sculpture as a clay model and then made a plaster cast. That work shows another student-teacher relationship: what Hughes learned from artist Lynn Marie Naden about the process of making molds.

"Lynn nurtured me," Hughes said.

It took Hughes six months from making a model to creating a form he could use to cast more sculptures. A variety of modern materials is used to make sculptures of "Ari Kindrajil" that look like everything from bronze to marble. Hughes shows some of those editions at his Art Shop Gallery opening.

"This is the biggest art project I've ever done," Hughes said. "It's great that I'm 62 and can get this worked up over art."

The range of art, from sculpture to paintings, and his interests from sign making to teaching, shows Hughes' wide and varied approach to art. For more information on his work, visit his Web site at www.bradhughesart.com.

Naden also teaches a class in beginning mold making later this month. A professional mold maker for 25 years, Naden offers a three-day workshop 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 19-21 at her studio on Kittiwake Court. The 10-person class is $250, including $125 to cover materials. To register, call Naden at 235-5966, or e-mail her at naden@ptialaska.net.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.