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"Winona Morning" watercolor on paper by J. Robert Burnell Portsmouth artist J. Robert Burnell grew up around the water in a family of watermen, and sailing his own boat since he was ten years old. He has sailed on nearly every type of workboat on the Chesapeake Bay. It's no wonder that Burnell's love of the water reflects so naturally in his marine paintings. You won't have to go far to see one of the largest collections of Burnell's marine art all in one exhibit. Over 20 new acrylic and watercolor paintings by J. Robert Burnell will be on display and for sale in the 'foyer gallery' at Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery at One High Street in Olde Towne Portsmouth. You will also be able to preview his nautical artwork on Skipjack's web gallery in conjunction with the show opening. The exhibit opens Friday, December 3, 2010 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. during Olde Towne Portsmouth Virginia's monthly 'First Friday' event. The exhib

NEW Sea pendants by Patty Anderson Set sail in style with Skipjack's collection of nautical and beach inspired jewelry- perfect for everyday wear and your passion for nautical/coastal living. You'll adore our selection of woman's elegantly crafted nautical-themed jewelry including sterling silver sailboat necklaces and earrings by Barbara Vincent and distinctively coastal and beach designed creations by Patty Anderson and Betty Burnell. You can see our total nautical jewelry collection on our web gallery at Skipjack Nautical Wares .  Pictured above: NEW pewter beach jewelry "sea pendants" by Patty Anderson. Comes with silk  ribbon. Pendants measure 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inches. $28.00 "Something Fishy" a custom made necklace with matching earrings by Betty Burnell Sterling silver chain, betelnut beads, Hill Tribe silver fish. "Something Fishy" is an original beach creation by Betty Burnell from her Coastal Collection. Necklace with matching earring

W e've selected some of our favorite nautical picks featuring easy gift options for anyone on your shopping list! Nautical Code Flag Acrylic Drinkware.  Guaranteed to help you navigate in style! Barware has just become more entertaining. Inspired by the Code Flags themselves, Skipjack brings you a unique line of Nautical Drinkware from Up2Code. Say Cheers, in a new & entertaining way. Our drinkware is sure to launch lively conversation at parties or anytime, and will amuse the saltiest of sea dogs and landlubbers alike. Each adorned with their nautical signal flag and double entente meaning. The limes in the gin & tonics won’t be the only twists! Perfect at home, on the patio, at the beach or on the boat. A great addition to any home decorated with a coastal or beach decor style. Dishwasher safe. Made in the USA & Canada. Special price: $19.95 set of four  Blue Crab Beach Bag, tote or Coastal Weekend Purse Possibly the biggest, roomiest, most useful everythi

The buzzword for 2010 might just be "local" -- buy local products, eat local foods, support local artists. But especially around the holidays, there's more to shopping locally than just saving on shipping costs or reducing your carbon footprint. There are less tangible benefits -- connecting with a friendly shopkeeper, reveling in the aroma from a wall of scented candles, places where you can find something for that person on your list who doesn't just want cold hard cash or an iTunes gift card. November 27, 2010 is the first-ever Small Business Saturday. A day to come together in support of the small businesses we love. The shops and restaurants that employ our neighbors and reinvest our money close to home. The businesses that are the heartbeat of our communities and local economies. Here at Skipjack as a participating merchant, we are offering  a store-wide 20% Off Sale on Saturday, November 27th. This is a great opportunity to come out and find that unique gift f

Friday, November 19, 2010 5 p.m. til 10 p.m. Kick the holiday season off in style and support your local small businesses. Skipjack will be serving refreshments and hosting three or our favorites...back by popular demand! "From Rockland to Hampton Roads"  featuring original coastal watercolor paintings by Virginia artist Shirley Cook.  "Eddies" watercolor by Virginia artist Shirley Cook. Schrimshander Anthony Perry will be demonstrating his delicate art form during  First Friday at Skipjack Schrimshawed antique whales tooth by Anthony Perry "Unforeseen Circumstances": A Novel by Debbiann Holmes MEET THE ARTIST Book signing with Portsmouth Novelist Debbiann Holmes during First Friday at Skipjack Finalist in the USA book awards for 2010 best book of the year in romance fiction! ALSO   Riverview Gallery will be featuring the Norman Goodwin Art Show and ceramic sculpture show by students of B. Kobylinska.    Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Galle

"Boats Docked in Maine" watercolor on paper by Shirley Cook. "I realize now that I am painting again that, although when I was not actively painting, my eyes were open and I was absorbing layer upon layer of images. I savored the beauty of God’s universe, stared at it, meditated on it, drank it in, stored it in my memory, unaware that I would  one day be painting it". These are words expressed by Virginia artist Shirley Cook about her recent collection titled "From Rockland to Hampton Roads" of over 20 new watercolor paintings now on exhibit in the foyer gallery at Skipjack nautical Wares. The collection is comprised largely of plein air paintings created during her last visit to Maine combined with regional views of Virginia's Chesapeake Bay coastline and the Virginia Beach oceanfront. "Lobster Traps". Watercolor on paper by Shirley Cook. Shirley earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Indiana University in 1971, and then she went off with my

The Hog Island First order Fresnel lens on the Portsmouth, Virginia waterfront. "Shine on", guiding light-- I see your lighted beacon, shining "bright". Your light is strong, shining bold and bright-- It can be seen for many miles, your "guiding" light. Whether arriving from the sea, or standing real near-- Your light shines bright, dissolving all "sense" of fear. "Shine on", guiding light-- I feel safe, with a sense of home, when I see your "bright" beacon light. From the poem "Shine On" by Snow W. Frost The Hog Island Pavilion stands sentinel on the Portsmouth, Virginia seawall in front of the historic Seaboard building that houses  Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Gallery.   Standing sentinel encased in a glass exhibit pavilion located on the seawall along the Elizabeth River in downtown Portsmouth, Virginia, is the retired first-order Fresnel lens from the historic Hog Island Lighthouse on permanent display.

Large authentic aluminum porthole re-purposed into a mirror. Perfect for the nautical/coastal interior. With a barrage of replica porthole mirrors available on the market today, there's certainly something out there at every size and price point for the nautical/ coastal home decorator. But if you're wanting something more than the typical knockoff, then take a look at Skipjack's classic nautical porthole mirror. Made with an authentic large opening ship's 2 or 3 dog portholes that we've recycled from the shipping industry, these are handsomely re-purposed into an impressive nautical mirror. These portholes are made from aluminum and salvaged from ships built in the 1970's/ 80's and made to the highest of marine specifications. Aluminum portholes are much lighter than their brass and bronze predecessors which makes them very usable as a wall hanging in any nautical/coastal interior. Side view of our classic nautical porthole mirror. An example of a

The Schooner Virginia docked at Norfolk's Nauticus. Photo by Claire Trego Goodwin. A recent article published by a Hampton Roads newspaper titled "Your hole in the water- Virginia taxpayers shouldn't be forced to support private causes, like a schooner"  is a blatant attack on the now docked "Schooner Virginia." This same newspaper that has published numerous positive articles about the famed schooner, has now decided to change its position. So I feel inclined to republish the article and the current rebuttal written by Captain Stefan Edick, Master of the "Schooner Virginia." The newspaper I understand will publish Captain Edick's response, but in a condensed version.  So here it is in its entirety. Please write us and leave your comments. We thank you for your support of the "Schooner Virginia." Let's get her under sail once again! Editorial: Your hole in the water Virginia taxpayers shouldn't be forced to support private cau