Sketching Ships on the Panama Canal
The addictive fun of drawing large moving objects
A few weeks ago, we visited Panama and stayed in the little town of Gamboa, right alongside the Panama Canal. Many years ago, we lived in Gamboa and we’ve visited many times. Last year was the first time I’d been there as an artist and this year, I was looking for new subjects to sketch. On a whim, I decided to go down to the Canal and draw the passing ships. I had so much fun that I kept visiting again and again. Here are a few of my sketches.
Gamboa is situated at a fairly long straight stretch of the Canal. The boats going north are exiting a sweeping curve. I started sketching as soon as I could see the ship coming toward me and made as many sketches as I could manage before it left my view. I worked in ink and was sketching like mad, trying to capture the perspective as it constantly shifted.
The second boat I saw turned out to be the Salome. I actually saw this ship last year, too, in the exact same place. I have a special place in my heart for the Salome—it’s a long story—but suffice it to say, I was thrilled to see her again.
One thing about sketching in ink: all the mistakes are preserved. I think this was really good for me; it forced me to let go of feelings of perfectionism. And besides, I was drawing so fast. Each view of a boat was done in a minute or two, unless it was moving directly away when I had a bit more time.
On the 6th, I switched sketchbooks and went from fountain pen to ballpoint. In the afternoon, the ship traffic runs north to south, so I was picking up boats going in the opposite direction.
The sketch above in no way does justice to the Zim Mount Everest. It truly lives up to its name; this giant is 400 yards long! With all its containers aboard, it was like watching a skyscraper sail past.
On my last day in Gamboa, I made it back to the Canal for one last session. Traffic was a bit slow so I sketched the old lighthouse while I was waiting. It was probably built around 1917 but is no longer in use, having been replaced by more modern equipment.