It’s a perfect summer day and children sail out of Cozy Harbor, Southport in Turnabouts. It could be summer 2014 except the young sailors have sailed past the Cozy Harbor House, the Southport Yacht Club and Pratt’s Store. Nationally acclaimed maritime artist Ed Parker has imagined such a scene in his whimsical and nostalgic painting titled, “Cozy Harbor Sailing Society 1928.”

The Southport Junior Yacht Club Sailing Foundation has long reaped the benefits from the annual Arts & Crafts Show held at Southport Yacht Club each August. Recently Southport summer resident Ed Parker conceived of a means to extend the idea of Southport artists supporting Southport sailing and graciously offered to donate half the proceeds from the sale of his painting “Cozy Harbor Sailing Society 1928” and all the proceeds from the sale of a special limited edition of signed and numbered 14 by 14-inch museum quality giclee prints to the nonprofit sailing foundation.

Parker combines a respect for history and great American traditions with unique inventiveness that has placed him among the leaders of today's generation of Americana painters. Over the past 30 years his paintings and illustrations have graced books, magazines, private and corporate collections from coast to coast. Working in the great American folk art tradition, Parker has carved out a name for himself using a sophisticated sense of design, proportion and color to create charming and often humorous vignettes of American life. The paintings borrow from American folklore and history creating inspired moments in time and imagination.

Parker's work has been exhibited in museums throughout the United States; he is a Signature Member of the American Society of Marine Artists and was elected to the Society of Illustrators. Music is an important part of his artistic muse and when not painting he is often playing folk guitar and singing traditional songs, the lyrics of which find their way into his paintings, completing a circle of folk inspired American traditions.

Parker accompanied his offer to the Southport Junior Yacht Club Sailing Foundation with these words: “My granddaughter is currently in the sailing program and her mother was in it when she was younger. It’s been a great experience for them both ... that’s why I wanted to do this.”

Readers that are interested in ordering a limited edition print for $300, including insured shipping, may do so by emailing the Southport Junior Yacht Club Sailing Foundation at tuiga.d3@gmail.com.