She sells seashell - a poem

A selkie by the North Sea

It started with a limpet shell.

I've always loved the water and after spending many summers on the waters of Connecticut studying marine life became a passion and joy. Then at the beginning of 2020 when I began The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron one of my imaginary alternative careers was to be a marine biologist. 

But, as many things do, it began to fade and I did less things with the sea. But, at the start of 2020 I began looking to the sea for help and healing. I'd known for a while that my spirit animal is a blue whale. And through meditating and focussing on that I found a sense of excitement and peace.

Through The Artist's Way I began dabbling in marine biology. As part of my artist's dates I would regularly walk to the ocean just to be on the water. I then began picking up shells taking them home and studying them.

The first shell I picked up was a limpet shell. And, in looking into it, I found that limpet teeth are made of the strongest substance on earth. Something about it gave me a sense of renewed strength in the need to be more tenacious. It told me that I was on the right track and encouraged me to get out to the sea more and more.

Over the next few months I made more and more trips to the sea and eventually a friend invited me to join the Edinburgh Blue Balls for one of their cold water 'dips'. It seemed mad to consider jumping into the freezing North Sea in April. But, I'd made a commitment to trying new things and, particularly, be in or around the water as much as possible. So, I put my money where my mouth is, put on a pair of budgy smugglers and jumped (well, walked slowly) in. 

I can't say it was magical. But, I was not only joining a group of sea dippers, I was joining a group that was founded to support men's mental health. It has been such a boon to my life. It was on my second or third dip when I had a situation that would normally have caused an extreme bout of anxiety, but I seemed to sail through it because I was too busy laughing and jumping through waves. I began to realise what a powerful effect the water and the group was having on me. 

So, one day as I was practicing my water colours before working on my bestiary, I decided to warm up with what I believed a Blue Balls selkie would look like. The picture turned out better than I imagined and it slowly began a cascade of thoughts that led to one of my most recent favourite poems.

I'm so glad I'm reconnecting with the water. Every time I visit the there's another adventure or new organism or bit of information to learn about. Best of all I get to jump in regularly with an incredible group of guys. 

And Venus Was His Name - photo by Schnapps Photo

Hope you enjoy!
‽

Buy 'Black Star' or 'Spirit Shear' on Amazon in the UK and US
Check out Themo on Twitter and Facebook

Life in colour - watercolour

Self portrait - watercolour - 2020

I've been practicing my watercolours again. It's been nice to get back into them and remember some of the many many lessons I've learned over the years. 

I got my first watercolour set in Middle School. I was desperate to try my hand at painting. And, I'm pretty sure my parents' reason for handing me watercolours was because there were easy to clean up. And, I've always veered towards the less messy creative arts. However, I'd had the various paint by number acrylic sets and a Bob Ross oil paint kits as a kid. But, I never went back to any of those with any lasting interest. 

There's something about the fluidity and wildness of watercolour that seems to work well for me. Perhaps I'm drawn to them because they seem to be the favoured medium of many of my favourite illustrators. I remember being enchanted by Michael Foreman's illustration in Nicobobinus when I was 10 years old. The depth, texture and life that watercolour brought to his images was captivating. Manga artists tend to use a combination of pen, ink and watercolour. And some of my favourite illustrators, Tony DiTerlizzi for example, use watercolour in a way that is simultaneously fanciful and grounded in reality. 

Did I choose watercolour or did they choose me? Who knows?! I suppose it doesn't matter. I'm just glad to have reconnected with another form of self-expression that gives me the opportunity to share what's on the inside!

Hope you enjoy!

‽

Buy 'Black Star' or 'Spirit Shear' on Amazon in the UK and US
Check out Themo on Twitter and Facebook