Selkie: It is Time to Return

This is one of the large wool paintings completed in 2020. It is based on one of the Selkie stories, and  is one of my contributions to the passing on/coming into a New Year. Many of us are familiar with the selkie's story. She lived as a seal with her seal family in the sea, until one day, while out in her human form with her sisters, her skin is found and stolen by a fisherman, who will only return the skin some seven years after she's been his wife on land. She has no choice but to marry him and live out on land, out of her sea home. Eventually a child is born. Towards the end of the seven years, she's been on land for too long, weakens, has become sick and ragged. Her seal sisters help her child find its mother's skin. It is returned to her, she cannot stay on land any longer... She will die, if she stays. She doesn't want to part with her child. The child knows the mother must return to the sea, but doesn't want her to leave....

We've all been out of our element this year, even more so than usual. We are haggard, ready to live more freely again. Hopefully we will find our way back to our own 'seas' this New Year. I wish you all the best, in health, happiness, and in learning how to replenish your selves in your own healthy ways:)

This is a new piece, a wool painting, measuring approximately 125x75cm, my largest wool painting so far. It may be part of a trio, if the other two ever come clear in my mind.