Earlier this year while wandering the beaches nearby, I came across an unusually large number of Mermaids Purses in various colours and shapes, some I had never seen before. These curious flotsam that wash up on the tide are the egg cases of sharks, ray, dogfish and other similar sea beings and yet they conjure up something more mystical, magical and altogether more charming.
Some say they are mermaids handbags which I rather like the idea of. The thought that these mythical creatures with fins instead of feet, with sad songs and long glowing hair, might keep their precious belongings in these, speaks to me of a different type of mermaid purse. One that is made of silk, covered in jewels and pearls.
My latest piece of mixed media work is in celebration of these curious purses.
Texture mediums were added to the background board to create fish scale effects, inks were applied, then strips of silk and tulle, tissue paper and silver threads. Each addition was chosen to bring to life the prose I wrote for this piece. The purse is made of felt, with a silk covering, sari silk ribbon flowers, fresh water pearls and glass beads, hand dyed lace and tulle embroidered with Moroccan sabra threads and metal beads.
As the text implies, the purse belongs to the mermaid, but you may remove it from the board to wear it or put precious crystals or other mementos inside, but you may only borrow it, then it must be returned to its place on the board.
This is one of those fanciful pieces I may only make one of, although the idea of woodland nymph has come to mind and needs some thought.
Walking the beach with my camera, I feel the sense of living in the moment, how with one click of the shutter I have recorded a split second in time that I alone have witnessed. Even if someone walked in my footsteps, they would never see the world as I did in that moment. That is special. I hope you enjoy my images as well as my mixed media piece.
Comments as always below. Thanks for dropping by! To see more of my work, visit my social media and browse my website. Follows are much appreciated.
Karima Rebecca Powell Artist 