In the Deep

This is the one that started the passion for oil pastel in me.

I was trying to think of a good gift to get my best friend, Kim, for her birthday. I'm really bad at keeping track of birthdays so it was late but the look on her face was awesome anyway. She loves anything nautical. Stories of sea monsters and krackens delight my Caribbean history fan of a friend. (Shes a professor in the subject now at SU) Gifts you make for a friend out of love are always best.

I was at work (Wilson Tuscarora State Park) in the front booth. Bored. I always brought things to do so I had my pastels with me just in case inspiration should hit and man did it!!!

I didn't have a picture in front of me. I just drew from the image in my head. My creepy fantastical purple/pink octopus came to me. Its tentacles curling around and and stretching out and if you could be prey it was too late because your staring into its eye! I really enjoyed varying the textures in this work and playing with the colors. I'm a huge fan of the combo of fuchsia/purples and orange.

The "white" has its own texture in this work and for printing the purple was made darker. The original is on display in my other home away from home with Kim and her family. It still commands my attention when I visit. I can't tell you how much I loved drawing this octopus. So he may reappear in future work...

Maybe even in a short story/children's book? Hmm...

This is the work from farther away in a vignette shot by my favorite photographer Carolyn McAfee. Visit her blog at http://www.ccmcafeephotographytheblog.com/