The 'Tidewater tug' and barge company moves cargo along the columbia river.

Artist comment:  The name of the tug is 'Challenger'.  A sign on the side reads 'Tidewater Barge Lines'* and the barge she is pushing is also tagged 'Tidewater'.  In this pastel painting on Canson Mi-Teintes paper, I captured her in the line of duty pushing a load of wood chips upstream.  This tug is designed to push.  It's bridge is high to allow for visual access over such loads as this.  Altogether, this tug and barge work well together to assure smooth traffic up and down the Columbia river.  With gray pastel, I sketched the subject.  Beginning with the sky I painted the blues and grays, then repeated those colors in the water.  Next I painted the hills of distant Washington.  The barge and it's cargo were next, then I painted the tug.  The best and final touch was adding the American Flag.

This image is available as a limited edition giclee print on paper and canvas from an original painting by Carol Thompson. Edition length is 3600 authorized, signed, limited edition prints (3500 numbered and 100 artist proofs). Please visit my website for prices and availability of the original painting.