Stories about selkies rarely end happily. They’re as bad as Arthurian legends – I almost always know how they are going to end. In that context the picture above (ink pen and wash, adulterated in photoshop) looks more bleak than sassy, although it was the culmination of a series of scribbles of selkies dive-bombing into the water with their seal-skins tied around their necks like kids playing superheroes. Still, I like it and may rearrange it so that it works as a frame or title.
Just so you’re warned, the second picture contains mild fairytale nudity…
I’m still working in pen and ink here, for a change from scratchboard (although the hint of pink was added in photoshop), because I am using it on a Project (the same one which influenced last week’s Illustration Friday picture) and so it was to hand. I may redo it one day so that it looks less like a scene from CSI: Urban Fantasy, but it is much more exuberant – it is little known, but the real trouble with selkies is their remarkably uninhibited attitude to underarm hair.
February 27, 2009 at 8:22 am
I just love these loose and free illustrations you done. Very sweet and wonderful. thanks so much for stopping by to visit me.
February 27, 2009 at 9:07 am
Thanks, Vanessa!
Anytime :)
February 27, 2009 at 2:29 pm
You know, I had seldom heard of selkies until I saw The Secret of Roan Inish. If you have not seen it, you might find that movie fascinating.
And…speaking of Zoey Deschanel (since you mentioned her in another post): have you or any of your kind readers) ever seen the mini series Tin Man? It is a REALLY modernized retelling of the “Wizard of Oz” story–and she plays the role of Dorothy, although renamed something like “DG”. This is the site for the series: Tin Man
February 27, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Selkies are great fairytales, because they seem to be the least re-used ones.
Roan Inish I loved, though.
Zooey Deschanel lights up the screen whatever she’s in, doesn’t she?
Please explain your comment about underarm hair!
February 27, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Thanks, Will. I don’t think I’ve seen it, but I’m familiar with its existence. I only heard of Tin Man after googling the correct spelling of her name last night, but will keep an eye out for it.
Aimee – look at her armpits :)