Caroline Magerl

[Billy Bones]

ATTENTION WOODENBOAT EDITORIAL ILLUMINATI:

What'd you do with Caroline Magerl (http://www.cmagerl.com.au/) ?

To explain for the rest of us, she is the illustrator (rather well known in her own right) whose delightful watercolors and insightful cartoons used to appear in Peter Spectre's "On The Waterfront" column.

You know, I am surprised how much I miss that column. The sawdust that's there now is probably more on target but by gum there's something really missing.

We don't hear about the goings on at TARSUS (http://www.arthur-ransome.org/ar/tarsus/tarsus.html) for example. Many if not most of us share some historical connection in The Swallows and Amazons. Peter could always be relied on to keep us up to date with the Nancy Blackett (http://www.arthur-ransome.org/ar/nancy/) . That's just one example; as most will recall each issue was chock full of such tidbits.

Anyway, Caroline Magerl's work transformed "On The Waterfront" from an amusing scrapbook to the historical and emotional spine around which WB prospered. Not that WB isn't prospering now, but without those two, the lee shore of rum and shoe advertising looks a lot closer than it used to.

I miss Caroline Magerl. More to the point, I miss WoodenBoat with Caroline Magerl.

http://www.cmagerl.com.au/New%20fine%20images/rider-and-headland.jpg

[Billy Bones]

Nobody else miss the Magerl cartoons?

[Alan D. Hyde]

She's like wooden boats.

Not necessary. Can be replaced with lesser and more plastic stuff, cheaper and superficially more functional.

BUT, despite the trouble and expense, delightful... worth keeping.

Alan

[Wild Wassa]

Her art has the ambience of Charles Blackman with the simplicity of Sydney Nolan's later works and the facial expresssions mimick Ian Dickenson's portraits ... her art is (probably) well worth collecting as those other artist are now dead.

Warren.

[ 12-19-2005, 01:05 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Billy Bones]

I thought this was interesting. From her bio...

Caroline was born in Germany in 1964, spending her early childhood in Sydney. Her father, a musician and yacht builder, took the family to sea when Caroline was seven. Their years together sailing the East coast of Australia was a singularly formative time in Caroline’s life as an artist. Caroline sailed across the Tasman in her twenties, and spent a year cruising New Zealand, before settling in Brisbane to begin working as a freelance illustrator and cartoonist. I've just had a nice note from Ms Magerl. She says that OTW was her longest running job by the time Peter left--10 years! She is on board with Peter again at Maine Boats and Harbors, although she maintains a good relationship with WB and has occasionally illustrated articles for them since. (I thought I had noticed that!)

She also says that the painting of hers I have had my eye on sold very recently. Which one of you bought it, so I can send someone 'round to pick it up after the holidays?

[Keith Wilson]

I particularly like the cartoon with the young couple sailing close-hauled in about 35 knots of wind, reefed way down, full foulies, spray blowing everywhere, cold and miserable - He says, "I though this was supposed to be a romantic cruise". She says, with a wry grin, "I'm not wearing any underwear". My wife and I had many a laugh about that one on San Francisco Bay in much the same conditions.

[Tom Jackson]

What I understand from Caroline is that when she
visited WoodenBoat many years ago from Australia, Peter Spectre agreed to use her illustrations at a time when she really needed that kind of support and encouragement. She continues to illustrate for him, I believe, out of loyalty. But she has moved on with her artwork, emphasizing fine-art painting rather than “cartoons,” a part of her work that she isn’t as willing to devote so much time to these days. (She does illustrations for WoodenBoat from time to time, for example the fine piece she did to illustrate an article I wrote for Currents about the first boat I built.) Her paintings have been shown in galleries as far away as England, and her illustrations for children’s books are wonderful.

She stayed at my house in Brooklin for a week a few years ago when she came here with her husband, Mark, and their daughter, Jennifer (who saw snow for the first time). She is a delightful woman with a fine family.

[Billy Bones]

Ah, yes, 'Currents' is the name of the new column.