Painted in 2025, Heart Tethered by the Tide is a 16 × 20 original oil painting by Hope Blakely, inspired by a photograph taken years earlier along the northern coast of Ireland near the docks facing Tory Island. Though the boats themselves sit just outside the frame, their presence is felt in the heavy coils of rope — scarred, weathered, and essential — anchoring the composition in quiet industry.
This painting reflects both the physical grit of a working harbor and the emotional pull of a place that lingers long after you’ve left it. The foreground rope, rendered with careful attention to texture and form, draws the viewer into the scene, while the calm water and distant shoreline create a sense of space, memory, and breath.
Executed using traditional oil techniques, the painting was built through multiple layers and careful glazing, allowing subtle color shifts and depth to emerge over time. The surface carries a soft luminosity that rewards closer viewing, particularly in the water and atmospheric sky.
Painted on primed hardboard, this piece offers a smooth, stable surface well-suited to layered oil work and long-term durability. It is a contemplative work — one that speaks to connection, labor, and the quiet ways certain places tether themselves to the heart.
Details:
Title: Heart Tethered by the Tide
Artist: Hope Blakely
Year: 2025
Medium: Oil on primed hardboard
Size: 16 × 20 inches
Technique: Traditional layered oils with glazing
Price: $650
Framing: Unframed (unless you tell me otherwise)