Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Blue Blue Crabs

I had the darnedest time thinking of a title for this. I was in a local Asian Grocery Store where fresh seafood means there are multiple tanks of live fish. The past month had a several tanks dedicated to our local dungeness crab but next to the live conch shells and scallops was a plastic bin of blue crabs. I thought blue crabs are native to the Atlantic. It appearred the transport of these guys started out chaotic with them fighting for space and now that they were near the end of their short on-shore life span it had become calm. With my camera phone I wanted to capture the crab chaos to calm, so my first title was "the 3c's.:"

Then my very talented blogger pal Don Michael Jr commented on incorporated the word blue and its double connotations. *bing* New title...thank you so much Don!



40x30 oil on gallery wrapped canvas-
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23 comments:

Art with Liz said...

An amazing painting Sheila, but I always feel a bit sad when I see any kind of animal stressed out. For me, you've conveyed that in this painting. Incredible.

Unknown said...

I'm so glad you wrote about feeling a bit sad because I thought I was being silly feeling the same thing! Thanks for validating that I was not being a super sappy gal feeling sorry for crustaceans near the end of their life.

Linda Popple said...

Oh my gosh!! This is a complicated painting! I am so impressed that you got through it and came out with beautiful colors and a painting that evokes feelings. Well done!!

Pam Holnback said...

What a great piece. I think I would have avoided trying this altogether!

Dana Cooper said...

Wow Sheila! You really bit off (no pun intended) a lot with the piece. There is so much going on but the abstract quality really grabs me. Well done!

-Don said...

I felt the same sadness with this piece. Great job! Maybe you could use a play on the word 'blue' for the title? Just a thought...

It's really good to have you back around, Sheila. It's been impressive to see all of the new work coming out of you. Your hiatus seems to have reinvigorated you immensely. Keep these gems coming.

-Don

Douglas Hoover said...

Impressive, Sheila!!! The size and of course my favorite color really do "it" for me.

And of course the new title is perfect :)

D.

Kim VanDerHoek said...

Wow, amazing job with a challenging subject Sheila! You did a wonderful job!

Suzanne said...

i look closely and i see human faces... was that intentional or is it must my old eyes need their glasses?

it musta taken you a long time to do this -- it looks so complicated. i love the various blues and grays and the touches of red.

a sad subject very well done

Unknown said...

I think like Elvis on grilled cheese sandwiches, you can find faces almost everywhere. I do think with crabs and stingrays, you can usually view their underbelly markings for eyes and smiles sometimes. Thanks Suz.

Carol Schiff Daily Painting said...

Wow, Shelia! Did you paint night and day during your absence? This is really a wonderful effort with a totally complicated subject matter. You are one brave girl and you pulled it off beautifully.

Unknown said...

What a unique subject matter -and you have brought such a successful mood to it! This work is inspires me; nicely done.

Elizabeth Chapman said...

What a pleasant surprise it was to hear from you again...and the amount of work you've been doing is amazing!! Loving it all!! Take care....

Gary Keimig said...

this is just a wonderful painting. Your color work, design, everything just works so well. great job Sheila.

Laura Trevey said...

LOVE these crabs! Please link up to my January Painting a day challenge if you are interested ~~

Laura

suzanneberry said...

you been to the crossroads girl? this is just incredible! i'm blown away by this painting sheila and so so glad to see you back. what an amazing painting!!! beautiful job, great composition. and also sad, you're so right. i hate to see any animal stressed, even though i hate to admit i enjoy them so much. beautiful job!

Autumn Leaves said...

A gorgeous bin of blueness here, Sheila! I too know the sadness that comes with fretting over seeing live creatures in such a state...Still, the painting is so wonderful and I was instantly reminded of all Rick Nelson's blue crab paintings.

dominique eichi said...

NOw your cooking ! YUM !!!!!
XOXO

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

Sheila, that's a slammin' painting!! WOW!
I don't think it's silly to feel that way. I am compassionate about all of God's creatures (even the creepy ones) and my heart aches for the misery they suffer. Call me overly sensitive but I can't help it.

Anne Marie Propst said...

Sheila, this is just amazing.

meaningful life said...

its a very interesting and beutiful colors.love it. take care ben

Diane Hoeptner said...

WOW! 30x40, no way!! This must be stunning in life!! I LOVE it!!!!

Anonymous said...

Sheila.....what a fabulous piece . I would love to see ii in person...to take in the size and all that blue. Well done!