Anyone who knows me knows that I have a thing for the ocean and sailors and pirates. I started this picture a while back and would go for long periods of time without working on it. As such, many parts of this were done and then re-done as I learned more or decided that I wanted it to look a different way. I will say that after all the time I've spent on this (I lost track of the hours long ago), I've grown quite attached to my pirate guy. It's nice to see him finally finished.

Oh, people wanted to know if he has a name. I finally decided on one for him - this is Liam.

This image was created entirely in Photoshop with my tablet and was completed in October of 2005. Full view is highly recommended!

Prints are now available!



I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
-Sea Fever, John Masefield (1878)