Capetown Cove

Fishing Pier

Miniature #23 – Constructed 08/2024

Fun Facts

A cove is a type of small, sheltered inlet that can be found along parts of the Cape Cod coastline. Offering protection from powerful storm waves, they make harbors that serve as excellent fish breeding grounds.

Fishing from piers, part of the culture on Cape Cod, offers anglers the opportunity to catch fish that would otherwise be out of reach without a boat. Piers offer a unique blend of tranquility, accessibility, and need for little more than a pole & bait (and a fishing license if older than 15).

Piers are commonly found along coastal regions, offering stunning views and an opportunity to observe marine life up close. They foster a welcoming and inclusive sense of community among local and visiting anglers alike.

Description

As I contemplated the theme of this miniature, I was drawn to my mind’s image of a fishing pier. With a nod to the popularity of pier and cove fishing on Cape Cod, the idea of Capetown Cove took shape.

Fishing is often a sport that is passed on from generation to generation. The characters accenting this piece reflect the sense of family, friendship, and the quiet tranquility of a small town such as Capetown.

The cove sits on a 12″x12″ plywood base. The overall piece stands at 7.5″ high and the time invested to design and build was approximately 45 hrs.

Materials Used

Bait Shack

The shack was built with a 2mm underlay of craft plywood that was covered with wooden coffee stirrer sticks. The roof wood was made from cutting thin strips of plywood, one overlaid over the next. A strip of craft aluminum foil was used at the peak as flashing. All of the wood was painted with watercolor washes to achieve the weathered look of time in the elements.

Fishing Pier

The pier was built using popsicle sticks, wooden coffee stirrer sticks, 1/4″ wooden dowels, and square match sticks. After construction, the pier was painted with watercolor washes to look weathered. The decorative buoys were carved from balsa wood dowels and painted with acrylic paint.

Land Mass

The cove banks and rocks were made from Sculptamold and Plaster of Paris and painted with thin washes of acrylic paint to create realistic colored rocks and stones. Once painted, dry tan grout was applied to the land structure and riverbanks to add realism to their rock-like appearance.

Water

The plywood of the ocean area was painted with acrylic paint, with gradual tonal changes to depict depth. Once dry, the completed pier was attached to the plywood base and a few random pieces of driftwood were added.

A 2-part liquid resin was then mixed, tinted a light teal color, and poured to create the water. The boat was added while the resin was wet. After the resin had totally set, a layer of Mod Podge gloss was applied to the water surface and blown with a straw to create the flow and ripples of the water. A dry brush was used to add highlights to the gentle ocean waves.