ATC: Selkie


My fourth ATC in my Mythical Beings and Imaginary Friends series is a lot more friendlier than the kraken in the last one. She also dwells in the sea, but can also live on land if she desires.

Over time, she has become confused and mixed in with the mermaid, but she is a different creature entirely.

In the sea, she has the form and attributes of a seal, and takes human form when she’s on land by removing her seal coat. Selkies like to dance by the light of the Silvery Moon and really are gentle folk. Selkie men are devilishly handsome in human form, selkie women simply beautiful. They have been known to marry humans, but must always at some point return to the sea. A human who steals the selkie’s coat can claim her as his own, and she must remain with him until she gets her coat back. When she returns to the sea, she can not return to see her husband for seven years, but usually they never return – although if she bore children, she would occasionally play with her children in the sea.

They are really at home and happy in the sea, however.

My ATC depicts a selkie leaping from the waves, mid-transformation and letting her golden hair down before she even gets on land to remove her coat and stretch her legs. Created once again using pastels, gel pens and metallic markers, the colours on this ATC are quite subtle. I tried to take the best photo I could, but most had a little glare.


13 responses to “ATC: Selkie”

  1. thecobweboriumemporium avatar

    Another truly lovely ATC Tom. Her eyes are incredible, and her hair looks like gold strands which flow behind her.
    A GREAT make Tom. ~ Cobs. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Thanks, Cobs. I like her hair, but I’m not sure on the rest of her colouring. I’ll leave it for now, but may return to it at a later date to brighten things up a little. I’m pleased with her eyes myself… I wanted them to look both seal-like and human at the same time.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. thecobweboriumemporium avatar

        They’re really lovely Tom. Well done.

        Liked by 2 people

  2. bcparkison avatar

    where do you get all of the information about these creatures.? Very interesting , and she sure does have big eyes…the better to see with.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Thanks, Beverly. Her eyes are intended to look both seal-like and human at the same time, so they are oversized. As for where they come from… well, some I’ve known about and others I stumble across… and then do a little online research into them. There’s a lot of those creatures out there!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. bcparkison avatar

        We don’t know the half of what is out there.

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Tom Merriman avatar

          So true. They probably all know about us though!

          Liked by 1 person

  3. 〄 avatar

    That is gorgeous!!!

    I hate it when I can’t quite capture my paintings in photographs exactly how I see them with my eyes … like with the glares and such. Especially when I’ve textured it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Thank you, 〄.
      Yes, they don’t look exactly the same in a photograph, but I try to use the best one I can find. I do take a few just in case!

      Like

  4. Soul Gifts avatar
    Soul Gifts

    She looks sweet 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Thanks, Raili. And she is. Far more pleasant than the kraken.

      Like

  5. prenin avatar

    A new creature Tom! 🙂

    I have never heard of the Selki before, but I have a childhood memory of such a creature, so I know part of it! 🙂

    Amazing what remains when we think we have forgotten everything! 🙂

    God Bless!

    Prenin.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      And there’s always something else that comes along to fill the space where the forgotten once was! 🙂
      I like the legend of the Selkie, Prenin, mind you, I like all legends.

      Liked by 1 person

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