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Monday, 6 February 2023

Limpet portraits - acrylic on board

 

Limpet Portraits 1-4   acrylic on canvas board 15x15cm   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec



The four shells lying vertically in the photo above are the subjects of these first four portraits. When you closely observe and compare them you can see so many differences, each having it's own characteristics and subtleties. Hopefully you can see better in this photo below.


Limpet Shells photograph ©2023LisaLeQuelenec



Limpet Portrait 1   acrylic on canvas board 15x15cm   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec


I have been toying with the idea of using text within work for a while. The text in two of these paintings comes from notes I made about limpets from Wikipedia. During my research of these fascinating creatures I stumbled across a paper by Dr Louise Firth, Associate Professor of Marine Ecology at the University of Plymouth, titled What Have Limpets Ever Done for US? It is fascinating reading taking in thousands of years of cultural history all over the world as well as their importance within the ecosystem and many other threads besides. If you would like to delve into this fascinating read here is a link.


Limpets are extremely common in Jersey due to the island being surrounded by the perfect rocky habitat. As a child their common sight left me a little blind to collecting them and I rarely picked them up. However during the summer on a visit to La Hougue Bie Museum I learnt a little and saw how they were considered of such importance as to be placed within the Neolithic grave mound. During the Occupation when food was scarce they became an important source of food, supplementing meagre rations - not for the first time were they known as famine food (and not just in this location). The more I read, draw and paint these tough little critters the more respect I feel for them.



Limpet Portrait 2  acrylic on canvas board 15x15cm   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec



Limpet Portrait 3  acrylic on canvas board 15x15cm   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec




Limpet Portraits 4   acrylic on canvas board 15x15cm   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec


All four portraits are available in my Folksy Store.




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