This is a handmade linocut inspired by the Selkies, mythical sea creatures that are both human and seal from Irish, Scottish and Icelandic coastal folklore. The folktale is about how a Selkie's pelt is stolen from her by her human lover, and how she finds it again. At its heart, this story is about the loss of soul and resonates with those of us who sacrifice something vital to us, such as a dream or passion, with the false hope of receiving love in return. . .and how important it is to reclaim it.

PRINT SIZE: 12" x 17.5"

PAPER SIZE: 16” x 22"

MATERIALS: It is printed with Caligo Safewash (non-toxic) Relief Ink on either traditional Japanese Awagami Select Hosho Paper, or Strathmore Paper both of which are archival quality. Hosho paper is a cultural heritage paper that has been handcrafted from the branches of the kozo, gampi and mitsumata trees for hundreds of years. It is acid-free and archival quality and has a rustic natural handmade feel with deckled edge. Strathmore Paper Mills are located in Massachusetts where my studio is. Strathmore is a smooth, bright white, modern looking paper made of 100% cotton acid-free fiber. Please indicate in the note to seller whether the type of paper matters to you.

COLOR OPTIONS: It is printed with two different color options: black and gray-Blue. The gray-blue is hand-mixed so please expect slight variations. You can also request a custom color, it will take 7-10 days to print and dry before shipping.

STORY DETAILS:

A splash of grey flippers, the salty smell of sea kelp, and a fierce sense of belonging to an underwater world, are the beating heart of this ancient story from Irish, Scottish and Icelandic maritime folklore. Its theme centers around connection and separation, heartbreak and self-discovery, of loss and renewal . . .contradictory pairs of feelings we may experience together yet are frequently unvoiced combined because in our current world we are often asked to sacrifice this complexity in the name of simplicity, choosing one emotion over the other, and black and white thinking. . .

. . .Yet the story of Selkie holds onto this truth. . .

Using the wise words of Martin Prechtel, Selkie is a story of “The deliciousness of making mistakes and having failed beautifully”. Prechtel reminds us that “grief polishes us”, we get “textured”, it is the medicine that helps us discover something more from the loss. . .This is the essence of the story of Selkie. Selkie loses her pelt, and through the heartache of living without it, discovers its true worth and her deep belonging to her home in the ocean. . . .something she could not have become truly conscious of without first experiencing loss.

The magical, liminal, in-between place between the ocean and the land where this folktale takes place resembles, in synchronistic ways, the in-between, both/and qualities of these combined emotions. . . .along with the main character herself who discovers her true freedom, her home when she has the agency to shapeshift between human and seal. . .her true nature.

May we always be in search of our pelts or already twirling in them, dusting them off, redesigning them. . .

GIFT IDEAS: This would make a great gift for a nature and folklore lover, someone who loves the ocean and especially seals. It would also be a wonderful gift for a woman who feels like she is in the process of reclaiming a part of herself that was previously lost, it is an empowering gift, a reminder to truly value who you really are and to always return to that authentic place.

PACKAGING: This print will be carefully rolled in Kraft paper, packed in a recycled clear bag and shipped in a recycled cylindrical tube. FeathersandFolktales uses eco-friendly packaging supplies from EcoEnclose and YazooMills. A one-page insert including a description of the folktale is included with the print.

Free Shipping within the USA. Ships out within 1-3 business days.

Flat rate international shipping for $35.00

Questions? Please feel free to email diemdangers@gmail.com or contact me here. you will get a response within 24 hours.

Feathers & Folktales is a woman-owned, Massachusetts-based art shop offering handcrafted linocut prints of timeless folktales from around the world that remind us of our ancient kinship with the wild. These archival quality linocut prints are a labor of love: they are 100% conceived, designed, carved, inked, pulled and packaged by hand for you from a small home studio. Featuring animals and magical creatures from folklore alongside wide variety of botanical elements, each piece contains a precious offering from the past, a mythos, that can enliven our sense of enchantment with the natural world.

Please note that the copyright of this work is retained by the artist.