Nautica & Octopoda

“‎I have always been fascinated by the ocean, to dip a limb beneath its surface and know that I'm touching eternity, that it goes on forever until it begins here again.” ― Lauren DeStefano.

I have been very drawn to the ocean and the depths of the sea this month. Maybe because it's so damn cold here I haven't felt the silky water on my now albino white skin for over five months. Maybe because the Southern Ocean flows directly into the Antarctic. All I know is that the last time I swam in the ocean it was a full moon and there was a thunderstorm going on (I know, dangerous). It was so magical. I felt like singing. I think I did sing.

All my life I've wished I was a mermaid. I love the ocean and water and fish and seaweed and coral. This month I have been particularly fixated on octopuses (yes, that is the correct way of saying it- no octopi around here). I love their flowing limbs, wait...can you call them limbs when the things have no bones? Anyway...they are intelligent, graceful and elegant creatures. Oh, and they have three hearts. Yup.

I am looking to incorporate them into a piece soon, but for now I am just randomly sketching when i miss the sea. I bought a new moleskin and am enjoying scribbling away. I also got some new oil paints and have ordered some great tutorial books, I can't wait to start mastering them. I am really just playing around for now and squishing the paint around my palette with my hands and some beautiful new brushes. I love oils. 

My wonderful new octopus ring. I have named him Kai, which means sea or ocean in Hawaiian. 

Paint scribbles and market finds.

Wonderful new art supplies. I was in heaven <3

My inspiration for this month

xo. E

Once Upon A Time (Or Sometime In Between Then)

'May You Touch Dragonflies and Stars, Dance with Fairies and Sing to the Moon.' -Anon.

Fairy tales are great. I love them. I was obsessed when I was a young girl. I am still obsessed. Female heroines. Flowing hair. Fantastic dresses. Prince Charming(s).

These female antagonists and exciting adventures through forests and in castles are dreamlike and other-worldly. Having recently been to see the new Snow White and the Huntsman movie (twice, shh) my desire to ride of into the sunset and wrap my hair up in ribbons and pearls and put on my favourite ball gown (I don't own one sadly) was reinvigorated.

This Snow isn't your average chick. She kicks butt though. It seems like Chris Hemsworth's character of the burly Huntsman seems to be just following her around and serving no other purpose than some visual pleasure and the occasional 'helping hand' through bogs and mushroom-trip like forests. I'm a sucker for porcelain skin and red lips, and through her adventures she proved that innocence and care will get you far. And if you're beautiful that probably helps too.

I haven't done anything new in the past few weeks, having a slow lull. But have been working on my wooden piece, developing the hair (thanks, Snow) and exploring my love of roses (a.k.a working out how to paint them).

Introducing......Jen Mann

If you haven't already heard off her //gawked at her amazingness then click on this link NOW. It's imperative! She is simply wonderful. She works primarily with oils and is a portrait/figurative painter based in Toronto. Love. Have fallen in LOVE. She totally encapsulates the beauty of the colour white. Reinvented Snow White.

xo.