I was half-hoping that the most recent Illustration Friday theme would correlate with at least one of the illustrations from my niece's Christmas book I posted last week – that way I could present it as my submission while I got to work developing my ideas for the next HOWieZine (due at the end of January). And if the theme wasn't relevant, I was going to take an I-F sabbatical to toil on the zine.
In the end, neither situation unfolded. The theme-o-the-week – sea – couldn’t have been more uncooperative. But the concept of 'sea' was also too inspirational to avoid. I’m a big fan of the sea, even though I'm 2,000 kilometers from the nearest saltwater. I didn't see the ocean until I was 14, on vacation in Costa Rica. And I didn't see the ocean in my own country until 1999, to visit my mom and sister who had both moved to Nova Scotia.
Many of my favourite places I've been to in the world involve the ocean – Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia and Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland come readily to mind. Excursions to Dingle, the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher still recall amazing memories when Kerry and I traveled to Ireland in 2003.
But my fondest memory of "the sea" is a day trip from my mom's place to Kejimkujik National Park in 2000. Unfortunately, almost the entire coastline of Nova Scotia has been developed in some capacity – and this pristine, tucked-away corner is an obvious exception. Here we walked along an unspoiled beach on a warm September day, the only people for miles. The beach was crowded though, with hundreds of foraging sandpipers on their fall migration – and this image has stuck with me ever since.
Side note: I had initially started an illustration this weekend with watercolour and ink, but on Saturday night I cut my hand on a busted wine glass and opted for this more finger-friendly approach, using a combination of Freehand and Photoshop.
Above: some of my favourite sea photos (clockwise from top right): Cliffs of Moher, Ireland – Sept. 2003; Kerry at the Doolin ferry terminal, Ireland – Sept. 2003; sandpipers, Kejimkujik National Park – Sept. 2000; cormorant, East River, Nova Scotia – August 1999.
15 comments:
I love your image and the photos are spectacular!
Wonderful take on this theme!
cool illustration jeope, love the reflections.
What did i tell you about throwing wine bottles around?
Seesh!
Super cool! I love the photos too. Can't wait to see your zine pages this time!
Well, sounds like you had a fun-filled party weekend! ;-) Hope your hand heals okay!
Lovely illo. Although there are many parts of Cape Breton that still have lots of space. I recomend Isle Madame. We vacation there a lot. Beautiful spot. New Brunswick has great ocean drives. I grew up in the valley region of N.B and it is stunning!
the illo is fabulous - the photos are wonderful, and i hope your hand heals quickly!
That's great illustration! Love your photos too. We were in NS in August to see my family - everything seemed so picturesque. Probably not that way if you live there.
The textures on a stark background really do stand out, I like it ... and the photos have a poetic touch to them.
I love these little terns...the textured colors within their bodies and the transpluscent reflections make them absolutely wonderful. And about that hand...a busted wine glass? Wel, I guess sometimes you can havetoo much fun...hope it heals soon:>
Love the textures
The illo is great( and the photos,too)!
Top notch, as always man. I like the wood grain on the birds. Gives 'em a really natural vibe.
I really like the style of the upper pic. It is very unique. I may have to try something like that someday!
I did my first illustration friday, but I didn't understand the friday to friday deal, so I didn't get it on the list, but "sea" was fun!!! I love your birdies!
Beautiful photography and illustration!
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