Tuesday 8 March 2011

Four Pairs of Arms

I sketched these octopuses for edm 308 - something slippery, if you've ever held one you will know why!
These two little ones were caught by my brother in law near the coast.  They are considered a great delicacy here, but not one I share.  They also use the ink sac to make a pasta sauce that turns your mouth black when you eat it. (double yuk)   I think  I'd rather see these fascinating creatures swimming about in the sea and not on my dinner plate!

19 comments:

Gillian Mowbray said...

I've never tried even touching one and I think I share your lack of appetite for eating one. I love all the purples going on here and the tightly cropped composition gives it the wow factor.x

winna said...

such a wonderfully drawn and choice of colors work !

martinepittet said...

Great drawing and gorgeous colours! I agree with you, let them swim, they look so elegant in the water !

Alex said...

fantastic one! And yes I have held them before, you're absolutely right ^^

Sandy in Michigan said...

Great sketch and great story. I'm with you -- I'd rather see them wriggling around in the ocean. There is absolutely NO WAY I'd ever eat one.

Vicki Holdwick said...

Very nice drawing and a great example of "slippery".

xoxo

MaryO said...

Wonderful choice of subject, and beautiful drawing!

Patsy Taylor-Craw said...

Beautiful colors and cleaver idea. I agree, better in the sea than on a plate. Why would you want black teeth?

Anonymous said...

Lovely drawing! Don't fancy black pasta, but I have enjoyed eating octopus!

Barbara B said...

Wonderful, delicate shading. I've never had the nerve to try the dish, double yuck was my reaction,too.

Dan Kent said...

Gross! But well drawn. :)

Sandra said...

Slippery with super colors. Since I'm a vegetarian, I really don't savor the idea of eating an one.

Mari Brown and Colourblob said...

Yes, I have touched one and it was not the feeling of it that bothered me as much as the smell... But putting that aside, after they have been cooked I have to say they taste really good (although I would not go for the ink). I like the drawing, the highlights and shading is very good.

debra morris said...

Great slipperiness Cathy

Anonymous said...

Love the subject and the rendering of it! I love octopuses - never held one, but I imagine it would definitely be slippery. I've eaten them, but only as part of a sushi dinner.

Ellen Burkett said...

Well I've never held one...don't want to but they are amazing. Did you see where they climb out of their tanks and go to other tanks? I say let them be free...and you did a WONDEFUL job on this guy. I love the way you painted just part of him, too. Cool composition!

Unknown said...

Hmmm! I love octopus! I had never heard about eating the ink part though; that does not sound appetizing! Excellent choice for the challenge, and very well done, as always!

The Lovely One said...

My husband's favorite animal is the octopus (I have no idea why!). He would love this drawing!

jenna said...

Gorgeous drawing. I have returned to my vegetarian ways, so I no longer indulge in octopus, but I enjoyed eating both the critter, and the ink via pasta. :)