[Silverhart]

I am a Man Upon the Land,
I am a Selkie in the Sea,
And when I'm Far frae Every Strand,
My Home it is in Sule Skerry.

This is based on a lovely old Orkney folk song, The Great Selkie of Sule Skerry. Selkies, (silkies, selchies) or seal people, are one of my favorite mythological creatures, humans on land, and seals in the sea. The song is just beautiful. The story goes that the Great Selkie fell in love with a land woman, but being a selkie is forced to return to the sea as a seal. He later comes back to claim his little son, and "teach him for to swim the foam." The Selkie predicts that she will then marry a gunner, and that he and his son shall be killed by him. I've been trying to adapt the song into short story, and later maybe into a short animation.

So here is the Great Selkie and his little son, on a little skerry out in the ocean.

I sketched it out on paper first, and loving it decided to make an oekaki of it, and share it with all of you. That little kid especially was difficult to redraw in the computer, but he turned out alright, I suppose. Yes, his eyes are huge, and he was originally suppose to have brown hair, but it looked better with that contrasting splash of yellow. Everything is meant to be 'stylized' rather then truly realistic. It has it's flaws, but I'm quite proud of how it turned out. Didn't use any reference, either for the sketch or the final product, which probably explains why some of the anatomy is horrible. I'll probably continue to tweak it whenever I get the chance. Critiques and comments are welcome!

Here's the original sketch I drew:
Sketch

And for those, like me, who've always believed the Selkie is truly cinematic, and deserves it's own film, I'm happy to tell you Cartoon Saloon, an Irish Animation Company, who did the amazing 'The Secret of Kells' is working on an animated movie about selkies called, 'Song of the Sea'. Figured all my fellow selkie-lovers would want to know.

EDIT: Featured? *blinks* Did not see that coming. Thank you all so much! It's been sort of hard these past few days, and I wasn't even sure I would be able to finish this. I honestly thought I was seeing things for a second when I got on today. I'm glad you like it! ^^ Long live Selkies!

EDIT: Wow! 200+ likes! I'm glad so many people like my little selkies! Thanks guys! ^^

EDIT: 330+ likes? Wow! That's definitly the most likes I've ever gotten on a drawing. Thanks everyone, so much! And the Selkies thank you too!

[ThePalePrince]

Gorgeous! I love your style (and the song!)

[Silverhart]

Thank you! I sort of love-hate my style. I like it, but wish I could draw different. I'm glad you like it though!

[muskox]

i love selkies too ^^

[Corrupt.]

This is beautiful

[.Pardalis.]

I love them and kelpies too <3

Have you ever seen the secret of roan irish?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_of_Roan_Inish

I love the colors of the sea in the back ground and the feeling the picture gives off too.

[cayess]

@Lycrisa: I've seen that movie! :D We actually watched it in class, I liked it.

And I really like this piece of art as well. Selkies always remind me of that book by Eva Ibbotson, the one with the three aunts who live on the magical island... (I don't recall the name...) anyways, love it!

[morels]

pretty! congrats on feature!

[Nuclear_Angel]

This reminds me of a story I read in the 6th 0r 7th grade. Great job, I like it

[Kurloz Makara]

aparently im the only person in my familys history with brown eyes so i fufil some legend or something that means im a selkie.