A wild girl from the sea painted on old deck board.

"Wild girl from the sea"

Acrylic on reclaimed cedar deck board.  (Previously published in August 2017).

• Approximately 6 X 26. Twine handle.
• Seahorses were stamped on.
• Sea shell collected from some distant shore.

This mermaid has discovered a pure white shell at the bottom of the sea...

Whether to the Jersey Shore, to the Caribbean, or to Europe, my holidays have included a search for shells of all sizes and colours to add to my collection. In an earlier post, I wrote about one of my favourite books, and posted lovely shells that I had found on the Jersey Shore. (Seeking a gift from the sea.)

During a recent trip to Torremolinos, Spain, the beach was chock-full of some of the most beautiful shells I have ever seen. I wasn't the only tourist bringing souvenirs from the beach back home!

In March I painted a mermaid on foam board for a prop in a dance show. On occasion, I have painted mermaids in journals while others were painted on a canvas, here This mermaid sings a melancholy song for her lost love.

Why am I fascinated with mermaids? The Water Babies, a book I remember from childhood, might have something to do with it.

The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley

I can quite clearly see the cover of this book which belonged to an aunt of mine. The Water Babies was written in 1862-1863 by Charles KIngsley with a subtitle A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby.

KIngsley wrote a satire highlighting the concerns of intellectuals during the Victorian era regarding Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

The Water Babies even went further and explored many issues of that time such as child labour, the education system, and religion.

Heavy reading for a fairy tale.

The illustrations on the book cover fascinated me when I was younger. Although I was an avid reader, I don't remember borrowing the book to read it.

Free ebook available of this Victorian classic novel

Project Gutenberg is the oldest digital library with over 70,000 documents. The Water Babies is now in the public domain. I have included the link to read or to download the ebook for free.

With characters such as Mrs. Bedonbyasyoudid and Doasyouwouldbedoneby, Tom, the main character who is the water baby, meets all types of creatures from the sea.

I am newly intrigued by this book if not for its plot, then as inspiration for more painted mermaids or other interesting creatures that might be held within The Water Babies.

This painted mermaid looks quite lovely hanging out by the family pool.

Update on reclaimed deck board mermaid.

She is sold. (April 2018).

If you see anything you like on my website or on my social media posts, or if you would like to commission me for art work, please contact me.

Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try. - Dr. Seuss.