Sunday, February 22, 2009

Something fishy

Capelin study I
watercolour 5.5 x 8

Today I went to the supermarket to find a fish and came away empty handed. It seems winter and snow make people hoard and the fish counter held a vast quantity of crushed ice and nothing more - literally.

So then I figured I'd go for a frozen fish. I wanted a whole one. A simple request you'd think, living on an island wouldn't you? Noooooo, nothing again. Lots of filleted, sliced, diced and pieces but not a whole fish.

So I ended up with my own store of smoked capelin. Capelin 'roll' in late June or early July in Newfoundland. These small silvery fish launch themselves in the thousands on the beaches to spawn and people gather them to eat. Its virtually a tradition in Newfoundland and I have an opinion on overfishing, but I won't go there right now. Personally, I don't care for them. They've got a strong taste to me, but others adore them. Smoked they're not too bad, but I don't go out of my way to get them. In Newfoundland people like to share and there always seems to be a bag full of them landing on the doorstep.

However, I digress.

All of this is Robyn's fault. She put a bug in my ear about a printing process and now I have to do this. Over the next couple of days, if the experiment works, I'll show you what I'm talking about.

For now, here is a little smoked capelin waiting to join his friends in a bath and become hydrated. Keep your fingers crossed. And tomorrow, I'm off to find a real fish! Living on an island...hmph.

3 comments:

Robyn Sinclair said...

If fish are so scarce I will let you off the hook, Jeanette. I already love your Capelin watercolour and the group in the bowl would make another lovely study. You are a great art adventurer though, so I still have great faith that you will achieve what you are aiming for.

It's really sad that you live surrounded by the sea and can't get fresh fish.

Jeanette Jobson said...

There are fish available Robyn, just not on Sunday I guess. I'll have a look for some this week.

Scarcity of local fish is worldwide problem. The world doesn't know what its doing to the oceans - or has done.

Jennifer Rose said...

I read that page that Robyn sent you, its an interesting way to make prints so fingers crossed you find a fish to try.