After creating “Wild Island”, I was very inspired to make a sister piece with all of the sea life that surrounds Prince Edward Island. It just didn’t seem right to only do the land species, and skip the rivers and oceans- Our seafood and fishing industries are a huge part of our culture, and deserve a nod as well.
I decided to use the shape of the Island as the white space, and encompass it with many of the species best known around Prince Edward Island. The title “Cradled” comes from the Mi’Kmaq Nation’s idea that the Island is “cradled on the waves”. It’s one of the translations for the Mi’kmaq name for the Island - Abegweit.
I began with a list of what I wanted to include in the piece. Honestly, it was a lot of googling and working out what we fish and process here- I am not a seafood girl. I don’t like it, I don’t eat it, I don’t work with it. I can appreciate it, and appreciate the wildlife… But frankly I had to look into what people are really harvesting for inspiration.
Some of them were easy- Tuna, lobster and mussels were the first to come to mind. Some of the things that reminded me of Summers on Fortune Beach as well- Hermit crabs, shrimp and jellyfish. They’re all very much childhood memories for me.
I began with the outline of Prince Edward Island, and working with an 11” x 14” cold pressed paper, I then made an 8” x 10” frame within. Sometimes it’s easier to just think about the framing and matting sooner rather than later. I also needed to limit myself somewhere, so this just made a way more clear cut boundary for the space.
Next I began to pencil in the different species. I worked out the larger things first- A pilot whale, halibut, and tuna.
Then a lot of the fish- which I was trying hard to not mix up. Hake, striped bass, trout, skate fish, Atlantic cod and mackerel all made it in.
The smaller things I added as I filled it in. They could fit anywhere really so it was just a matter of finding a space for them. Mussels, shrimp, jellyfish, sea urchins, hermit crabs and river crabs.
I worked with different line widths to create some flow and waves throughout the piece. There’s a lot of linework and patterns within this, but its also really jam packed with hidden items. I think more than any of the others I’ve done!
The piece took me about 40 hours to complete. It took quite awhile to finish up- I think about halfway through I started to dread this one because it’s just so so detailed.
It was worth it though! In the end I created a piece that really resonates with a lot of people. It’s well loved and one of my best selling prints. It’s also the one that people ask for help with the most! There’s often one of the listed items that they just can’t find. If you’re in that boat, shoot me an email anytime guys. I’ll help!
The original of “Cradled Island” sold at Artisans on Main last year, but I do sell limited prints of this piece in the original sizing of 11” x 14”. I’ve had quite a few people ask for a print in a smaller format, such at 8” x 10”, but the truth is it’s just too detailed for that. So much of the detail is lost when you downsize this one. I do it on the greeting cards, and its actually quite nice and still fun to find the items- But for a piece that you’ll want to frame and keep on your wall, it’s not something I’m offering.
With both the prints and the cards, a list of the items to find are included. I make no promises that you’ll find that shrimp though, he’s the toughest!
