Daughter of the Waters
Watercolor on board
Ive always liked mermaids and used to peer into the waves hoping Id see one gliding inside the curl or playing with the sea lions. The kelp beds off the northern Californai coast are dense and home to all sorts of creatures, and any self respecting mermaid is going to adorn herself with the abundant shells and seaweeds flourishing in her environment.
Mermaids are often depicted as sensual sirens who look as if they havn’t a thought in their beautiful heads other than luring innocent sailors to their deaths. Just as mortals have many natures, so do the seafolk. This painting is of one such mermaid who has better things to do then lay about on the rocks calling out to passing sailors.
She has a sense of wonder and amazement because all around her the sea is alive with beauty. She loves her environment and is busy making necklaces and jewelry with abandoned shells and seaweeds (she would never boot a living animal out of its home or take its life for anything so selfish as making a new necklace to impress her freinds with). Below is part of her song, something I wrote to accompany the painting.
I am the soft sigh of surf caressing sand.
The fluid, curling wave breaking upon sharp coral.
I am the rhythmic chant of the tides,
my perfume the salt fragrance of damp seaweed and far away lands.
Ocean goddess and sea nymph, I am a daughter of the waters.
My world is a place of ever shifting, fluid realities.
I am swelling, invisible currents of sparkling light and mysterious shadow.
Text and image copyright Helena Nelson -Reed. Please dont use without permission.
Daughter of the Waters belongs to the following groups:
Myths, Legends and Fairytales, Underwater & Sealife (Limit 2 Per Day) and Vibrant and Vivid Color Available for sale asGreeting Cards and Laminated Prints
Paul Compton
Magic, gorgeous. Such a sense of wonder in this. I adore starfish also, they’re so lovely to look at and hold. Very beautiful Helena.
Magicat
beautiful image…. your work is so enchanting!! :0)
neogolas
Brilliant,your work is very entertaining.
doanart
I love the detail in this piece! I could stare into this piece for hours and see something new constantly….Your painting is vibrating with life.
Emma Wertheim
stunning work…the movement and colour blend so beautifully!
E :)
tkrosevear
This is gorgeous Helena, as are the words ;)
Nina Rycroft
Always a WoW!
DawsonImages
Beautiful
Karen Townsend
beautiful as always
Derek Stewart
Beautiful and intricate. Really jaw dropping work.
Headcrime
Great work again!
cherokee
beautiful
liliana
Fantastic work so full of color, detail and movement! Very beautiful!! :))
linskudd
Gorgeous work.
Wendy Slee
Beautiful and divinely feminine…
Ariane
Wonderful Helena – you just put the mermaid in context for me – I love mermaids but could never reconcile myself to the siren side of them – of course they are sea goddesses.
AnitaInverarity
Beautiful- I love mermaids x
nkbellani
just gorgeous.
Antanas
Very beautiful work
Victoria Jostes
your watercolor and poetry simply bowled me over! twin images to romance the senses! you can feel the swirling currents, smell the sea. BRAVO!
dnlddean
what can i say just another beautiful image your work always astounds me i think i would love to take a holiday in your imagination
Larasolnishko
beauty …simple beauty
louisegreen
Totally enchanting!
Donna Huntriss
Really beautiful work! You are so talented in watercolours! I am sure my Mum will love this one too!
Susan Epps Oliver
Wondrous work, Helena….......
sadeyedartist
Do you do one of these a day??
Alison Pearce
Absolutely gorgeous!!
shellylady
I’M LOVING YOUR WORK ADDING U TO MY FAVOURITES YOUNG LADY PORTRAIT :)
Sensiworld
Wow, beautiful work !!!
CherrieB
This is a wonderful work, The colours are amazing and there a real sence of movement. You realy get the sence of being in a kelp bed under the sea, and closer you look, the more is revealed. I love this
syd baker
Revisiting, love this one, love the way you write too!
shanemcgowan
aaaah me lassie ye have such sweet creations they are so beautiful helena hun :-))
Anette Tyler
Excellent work
PERUGINA
Just stunning. You are an inspiration.
Meeli Sonn
This is gorgeous, my dear friend.
And these words: She has a sense of wonder and amazement because all around her the sea is alive with beauty. She loves her environment and is busy making necklaces and jewelry with abandoned shells and seaweeds (she would never boot a living animal out of its home or take its life for anything so selfish as making a new necklace to impress her freinds with).
I love these words.
Meeli
Helena Nelson-... replied
Thank you Meeli. She’s creative just like us and knows whats real.
Tammera
Your work inspires me on my path back to myself. All art does but yours most especially gives me the desire I had lived so long without…Thank you for you beautiful inspirational work.
danita clark
Inspiring work, such beauty, and the text and her song is an extra treat.
Maureen Bloesch
lovely work!
kevinmawson
You do incredable work,This is so Beautiful, Enjoyed your written piece too!
km.
ninamarie
WOW…stunning!!
stephanie allison
This piece would be perfect in the Painted Ladies group!
♥
stephanie