Yesterday Kathleen Jennings and I had a work day out at UQ in Wordies cafe (trying a new venue for ease of travel for both of us without cars).
There was much talking and planning but not much actual work-work, yet it was still a Very Useful Day in terms of organisation and scheduling, synching our calendars for new and continuing projects.
One of the thing we did discuss was a new storybook, in a similar vein as Flight. So, Skin is next on the board. Kathleen’s first assay (above left) at a selkie came out as a glorious mix of a seal, the Lorax and Cookie Monster. I love her, but she’s Not Quite Right.
But then last night I noticed on Facebook that Kathleen was experimenting with some new paints … and this was one of those experiments … and she is Perfect.
She is the selkie lady of Skin.
I was sixteen when he plucked me from the sea.
Caught in his fisherman’s net, I thought I would drown until he lifted me into the too-small boat and began to hack at the rough fibres to release me. I should have known then how soft his heart was, to see him ruining a net so, but I was terrified. In his haste he cut me, split the skin down by my tail a good eight inches and saw the two fine-boned ankles lying within. He sat back, astonished, and I fought my way free of the pelt until I was naked and shivering in my human skin, huddled at the bottom of that little, little boat.
His family told him to throw me back, to return my other skin and send me home. He refused.
More as both project and year progress.