A Life and Career on the water inspire subjects in Odd Andersen’s latest show

For Norwegian artist Odd Andersen, maritime scenes are a subject very close to his heart and his latest exhibition of paintings in the show Life on the Water at the Trygve Lie Gallery in East Midtown reflect that.

It’s easy to see how such scenes became meaningful to Andersen as he has been exposed to many different bodies of water for a good part of his life. Andersen was born and raised in a Scandinavian neighborhood in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn. As a young adult, Andersen was drafted into the Navy and spent two years traveling on small boats on the Delaware River and worked as Dock Builder along the New York/New Jersey waterfront for nearly 30 years. Andersen’s knowledge and appreciation for life on the water was also built on the fact that his father was a merchant seaman in Norway which lead him to travel all around the world, including Antarctica.

Andersen’s paintings primarily take place in his native country and around the East Coast where he’s lived and worked his entire life. All of his works depict water in some form or another and effectively capture the essence an of the scene he’s portraying. For instance, one engaging painting titled Two Square Riggers features two large sailboats traveling on rough waters on a dark stormy night. The sky is filled with thick black clouds engulfing the blue sky that transition into a purple color as they get closer to the water. Andersen illustrates the struggle the ships face as they propel through the ferocity of the waves. Aggressive waters are also portrayed in a piece titled Western Norway depicting the steep, high mountains set upon a hilly landscape within the Norwegian countryside with free-flowing, narrow waterfalls rushing down the side and onto the land.

Norwegian Fishing Village by Odd Andersen

Other paintings in the show have a calming influence such as Norwegian Fishing Village featuring several houses built along the shore of a still river with several people standing outside with their boats ready to go fishing. In the background are smoothly curved hills and a blue-violet sky illustrate with lush brushstrokes to reflect beauty and serenity. Similarly, Brooklyn Bridge features the calm, turquoise colors of the East River as a steamboat cruises along underneath the iconic structure. The neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights can be seen in the background with the colorful apartments by the water and the beloved Jane’s Carousel along the Promenade in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

And in one triumphant piece titled Ship in Tow Dalzell, Andersen depicts the front of a cruise ship accompanied by two steamboats ready to make a grand entrance to its destination.At the Norwegian Seaman Church’s Trygve Lie Gallery, 317 East 52nd St., through Oct. 27. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 12 p.m.—5 p.m.