My piece of Scrimshaw

and where it took us.

Scrimshaw is the curious art born of the long voyages and endless hours at sea of isolated 19th century whalers. On the most unforgiving of journeys they etched images and stories onto the ivory and bone of the sperm whale, the unfortunate animal whose oil became so prized for fuelling lamps due to its clean and odourless burning.

I don’t think my scrimshaw’s real, it’s probably a plastic replica, but I’ve grown fond of it, picking it up now and then (it’s very tactile) and putting it down in different places around my home. On one side it has a drawing of a woman riding a dolphin while playing a lyre. On the other side, a poem;

Oh Great Jehovah heed the Prayers

Of we who hunt the whale

And speed our harpoons straight Oh Lord

Each voyage that we sail

Make bold our hearts spread wide our fame

Throughout the Seven Seas

And blow our ships safe home upon

A fair and gentle breeze

It’s a blend of folk art and maritime history, a glimpse into the lives of seafarers who navigated treacherous waters in search of their quarry.

Then I came across the art of Duke Riley

I reached for my sketchbook;

I liked the look of these imaginary scrimshaws. It became a class project - draw and paint a piece of scrimshaw with ink and wash.

Subject can be anything, maritime or contemporary;