About this artwork

The Fishermen Watched Over by Mermaidsis a wonderful example of the muted colour palette and delicate lines that are characteristic of King's work. Inspired by Scottish myth and folklore, the artist depicts fantasy creatures using ink and watercolour, with silver highlights to add dimension to the surface of the composition. King’s characteristic use of dot work and fine detail, and her use of vellum as a canvas, testify to her great technical ability. Vellum is notoriously difficult to work with, and any mistakes or smudges would have been impossible to remove. The artist attributed this ability to work in perfect precision to her eyesight, which she said had been gifted to her by the “faery folk” when she was a child.

 

Updated before 2020

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Jessie M. King

Jessie M. King