Today is World Ocean Day and of course, the world's attention turns to the Gulf of Mexico and the disastrous oil spill there and how it affects vegetation, animals, birds, and people. Its effects are far reaching and for other parts of the world who explore for oil, such as Newfoundland, its a 'there but for the grace of God' scenario.
Newfoundland has vast oil reserves offshore that are being pumped as I write this. Disasters have occured in the name of oil, mostly human loss of life due to machines failing. There hasn't been an oil spill to date, but there could be and it could have equally devastating effects on the ocean, coast and way of life in this region.
Mankind puts a large footprint on the earth and destroys many things in the name of progress, most of which can not be replaced or made better. While thinking of this, and reading about the Gulf disaster, the first bird that always springs to mind for warmer places is the pelican and it is one of the poor sea and shore birds that become victims of oil pollution.
I am starting a watercolour portrait of a pelican. Perhaps it will ease my mind or bring home to me more closely the impact that ocean pollution plays in the world. It is a perfect symbol for World Ocean Day in 2010. The initial line drawing is here, darkened to show the lines more clearly. I will start some washes later or tomorrow. Its on 200lb Arches paper and measures 11 x 17.5 inches.
4 comments:
Thanks for the thoughtful post, and the tribute of your artwork of the pelican.
Beautiful start - beautiful post. I'm looking forward to watching this one develop.
I think when you live on the ocean, as I do, the impact of pollution becomes stronger, even if not directly affected by it.
While we don't have pelicans here, I find them fascinating with a prehistoric look to them.
Thanks Diahn. I'll add some layers and get some progress going on this one in the next day or two.
This is going to be beautiful, Jeanette. I think we're all feeling pretty sick thinking about the situation in the gulf and its huge negative impact on us all. It's very disturbing, to say the least. Saddens me enormously.
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