"Massey is the James Michener of marine art. Where Michener paints a detailed historical picture of an era through narrating fanciful historical tales, Massey allows the mind to create fanciful tales through detailed historical pictures."

Click here to read biographical article here.

  

 

Sunset Rendezvous
The HMS Sulphur & Starling at anchor in Hanalei Bay
44" x 60", oil on canvas. Released as a limited edition giclée print - summer '06

  

MARINE HISTORY WEEK

Massey will discuss the rich historical period beginning with the arrival of Captain Cook and George Vancouver, the colorful era of Kamehameha II's "Pride of Hawaii", the riotous events surrounding the arrival of the USS Dolphin under the command of Mad Jack Percival and the historic charting of Hanalei Bay in 1837.

The artist will also discuss his critically acclaimed American China Trade series - the most exhaustive marine painting chronicle ever produced on the Yankee clippers.

For more information, please call 1-800-877-1948

  

 

 

 

 

The initial print in the series was actually produced by Massey himself in order to make it available for this year’s Kauai Historical Society auction.

The print ignited a spirited bidding war, ultimately ending in a winning bid of $4500 – the largest single donation of the auction.

 

Read about the 2005 show...

Read a 2003-04 summary...

  

The Final Print in the Pacific Explorer Series

Na Pali Voyagers

The 1837 Charting Expedition of Hanalei Bay

The original painting measuring 72 inches by 40 inches is the largest canvas the artist has ever painted. The work was unveiled at this year’s Massey exhibition, "A Brush with History," at Ship Store Galleries and is available for $175,000. Limited edition Giclee prints on canvas are being offered in three sizes and will be published this summer. More about the prepublication...

Continue...

 

 

To the Shores of Tripoli

"To bring a historical marine painting to life, it often requires forays to maritime museums in order to resolve problems that pertain to either the ships or the event portrayed in the painting.

In the case of To the Shores of Tripoli there were a multitude of questions that I needed answered before I could go any further with the painting. Most pertained to the Constitution herself, but there were also some questions about the Sicilian gunboat in the right of the sketch that needed clarification.

Fortunately, the Museum at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis has in their collection many artifacts and paintings concerning the Tripoli War..."

Click here for the Prepublication Announcement...
Click here to read more about the painting...
Click here for the graphite sketch...

  

Click here to download an article about Massey's work process, in the words of the artist. PDF-document (443 K). Adobe Reader needed (available free).


An original graphite sketch is now also available.
Please, call 1-800-877-1948 for details.

  

 

NEW OIL PAINTING

The view from onboard the Discovery shows the Discovery's main t'gallant yard being passed down to deck, while the Resolution struggles with split fore and main topsails, as wind and wave rise alarmingly under the flash of lightning.

  

The Storm that Killed a God

On February 4th, 1779, HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery departed from Kealakekua Bay and stood out to sea. The two ships were followed by large numbers of canoes as the Hawaiians gave their farewells.

For Captain James Cook the sadness of departure must have been mixed with a certain amount of satisfaction, for his policy of fair but firm treatment of the islanders had proved to be the best policy.

If matters could have been left as they were, history might have followed a different path. But as the Resolution and Discovery sailed northward, along the Kona Coast, the weather conspired for a different outcome.

Continue...

 



 

Playing on Lono's Island

The title of this work refers to the Hawaiian's initial belief that Captain Cook was the ancient God Lono. According to Hawaiian legend, it was foretold that Lono would return on large floating islands.

This view shows the HMS Discovery in the foreground and the Resolution in the distance having just come to anchor at Kealakekua Bay on the Island of Hawaii.

The pandemonium created by the hundreds of Hawaiians as they gleefully explored this gift from the gods continued throughout the day. So many Hawaiians climbed onboard the Discovery that she came close to capsizing.

Read more about this fascinating story...

  

 

Previous releases...