I painted "In Ernest" to serve as a memorial to my great great uncle. During my research for this painting I discovered that he was keen to implement an art gallery at Drake University. In a letter he'd written to the principle there he had requested permission to purchase several prints of work he'd seen in London galleries during a visit home to see family. The letters CQD in the painting refer to the modern day equivalent of SOS and MGY was the call sign of the Titanic. In the lower section there are longitude and latitude co-ordinates. These indicate the location at sea where Ernest was laid to rest.