Sea Gipsy

Begun from a similar starting point to ‘Ode to joy’, in that the ‘figure’ of arm, shoulder and back of this item of driftwood shouted at me when I found it washed up on the beach amidst a mass of twigs, boughs and debris following a particularly boisterous high-tide.

In the studio, in a tray marked ‘picture parts’, I remembered a ‘head’ that I’d had for years. Introduced, they made a fine marriage, and I well recall the excitement of wondering/deciding how to present the happy ‘couple’. After numerous experiments, I committed the sailor to this particular boat, which gave a necessary depth, yet slimness, of wood.

Look at the way he leans against the side. Sail full, flying-fish pilot, queen scallop shell fin rudder-like as they ride the waves together. Due to the nature of this construction, a sturdy flat base was required, and this well-rounded hunk of drift-log fitted the bill.