Monday, April 12, 2010

The Mermaid and the Fisherman


This pen and ink drawing is a result of a few days spent at the ocean a few years ago. I was fascinated by the bubbles in the surf and the rivulets of ocean water as the waves pounded the shoreline. I sought to capture the motion and grace of the sea.

I've always loved the idea of mermaids. The latest tale (no pun intended) I read was interesting. Mermaids were able to remove the skin of their tails, which they would then hide among the rocks. They did this so they could walk along the beaches unhindered.

According to legend, a man could steal a mermaid's tail skin, hide it and woo the mermaid as his own. However he had to keep the tail hidden, because if she found it, the pulse of the sea would be irresistible and she would disappear into the waves once more.

Do I believe in mermaids? Well, they haven't found Bigfoot yet, have they? Hmmmm....

9 comments:

Megan Coyle said...

I love the detail of the ocean and mermaid in this one. And wenever I hear legends about mermaids, I have a tendency of thinking of the movie Splash :)

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi Beth:)

Greetings:)

A lovely pencil drawing. It transported me to my childhood days--mermaids and princes and fairy tales. But somehow as I grew up other things cropped up in my mind and I gradually lost all that lovely dreams.

Your narration is very interesting. Something new to me:)
I can see you still retain that childhood dreams and fantasies which is pure,innocent and refreshing.

Have a nice day Beth:)
Joseph

Tobi Britton*pinkpixieforest.blogspot.com said...

Hi Beth!
What beautiful work you do!
I have no doubt you have pixies!
Sparkly Hugs,
Tobi

Clytie said...

The detail of the couple, the ocean ... and especially her fin ... are exquisite. I really love this picture.

Alan Burnett said...

I love the idea of the drawing coming from the bubbles in the surf. I also like your tale of mermaids. Perhaps Ursula Andress in Dr No was really a mermaid?

Lois said...

This is lovely and so romantic Beth!

Crafty Green Poet said...

what a beautiful drawing, I love her hair! That version of the mermaid story sounds very like the selkie story, which is that seals can shed their skins and become women and they also need to hide their skins or they can be stolen and then the selkies become women forever.

Unseen Rajasthan said...

Beautiful details !! Lovely design !!

Tammie Lee said...

lovely piece and post~
the clouds, their detail is wonderful as are the bubbles.