The Storm Kelpie Mixed Media Frame

This unique mixed media artwork celebrates the Storm Kelpie or Blue Man of the Minch, a character from Scottish folklore. The Storm Kelpies inhabited a stretch of water called The Minch which separates the Scottish mainland from the Outer Hebrides islands. The kelpies raised storms and attacked sailing vessels sending unfortunate sailors to a watery grave. The kelpie had a distinctive blue body and I have used a mix of glass and acrylic beads, a piece of blue ceramic from an old planter and a sodalite chip for the torso. The merman's tail is made with tie fabric. All the other elements are made using upcycled materials including a ship player's token from an old Monopoly set. The black shadow box frame is 27 cm square and can be hung on the wall or displayed on a shelf. UK postage is included in the price. There are many stories that gave rise to the blue men legend. Some suggest that it could have been tattooed vikings who used low lying canoes so that only their upper bodies would have been visible on the water. Whatever their origins, they make a colourful addition to Scottish folklore.