STEVE ROGERS has an enviable reputation as a master model builder. He doesn’t build sleek yachts, clipper ships or historic warships, but instead portrays working boats, the unsung heroes from the days when men could make a living pulling catches from the sea.

But Mr. Rogers is also an extremely gifted painter, and his brilliant renditions of these hard-working craft are highly detailed, colorful works with a distinctive palette and a dazzling play of light and shadow. They truly demonstrate the artist’s genuine affection for what he calls “an endangered species.”

Although model building and fine art would seem unrelated, each supports and enhances the other. Understanding construction methods, thinking in three dimensions and working from blueprints and photographs allows Rogers to create extremely realistic paintings of these traditional craft. He paints in acrylics, and is a master at capturing the toughness and durability of everyday working boats and the sheer beauty of the settings they work in.

Prints are now available for eight of these small gems. Despite the painstaking craftsmanship and superior detailing, these works have a whimsical charm and even a touch of nostalgia. Mr. Rogers has been elected to the American Society of Marine Artists.

   

PATENT TONG OYSTER BOAT ($1,600)