Artist Michael Blaser is a one time philosophy major and former Marine. He’s sailed Lake Michigan and at one time worked for John Deere. After starving artist period he broke into art related to the marine business. Currently he describes himself this way: “a fine artist painting historic and contemporary scenes of the Western Rivers (Mississippi, Ohio and Missouri Rivers) and the Great Lakes. My work is in oil and the canvases are from twenty inches to sixteen feet across.”

Dr. Don Crandall and his wife Nancy Crandall are co-owners of the J 125 Erleichda. Dr. Crandall works for Mercy Health Partners while Nancy serves as mayor of Norton Shores MI.

In the spring of 2002 Blaser purchased a Cheoy Lee 44 through Torresen Marine. TMI broker Jeff Allen is an Erleichda crew member.
He introduced Blaser to the Crandall’s. Blaser has always wanted to depict the sailing action of Mackinac. The Crandall’s patronage allowed him to do so.

The original painting is titled ‘Mackinac’ and hangs over the Crandall’s fireplace. It depicts the end of the 2002 Chicago to Mackinac one of the fastest races in history. It was the year that Pyewacket set a new race record. The J125 Erleichda is shown under spinnaker, a fast and fun conclusion to a high speed ride.

Shown is Round Island Light originally built in 1895 to mark the dangerous shoals around the channel between Round Island and Mackinac Island. This light was restored in the 1970’s and still serves as an official aid to navigation showing a flashing white light every 2.5 seconds.

Now available are giclee’s of the original painting. These are digital reproductions based on the original oil painting that are produced by the spraying of an image on to fine art paper or canvas.

This piece will be sought after by anyone whose sailed the Mac….hang ‘Mackinac’ in your house and you will have a 24/7/365 reminder of Mac’s past and future.

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