DMC2 Donna McLuskie - In The Swirls Of The River

Title of artwork: In The Swirls Of The River
Medium: Pen and Ink
Size: 19 x 29cm
Year: 2022

Description: Swirls is all about fear. As a pareidolist, I put my heart and soul into showing all the creatures and faces I perceive in places when creating each drawing. This image needed only three colours - white of the paper, brown for the punting boat and black ink for everything else. That sliver of brown craft is all that keeps the woman from plunging into the river and the cauldron of things that can be found there.
Inspired by a Martin Bond photograph, I had to honour my perception of a very large, hairy spider, despite arachnophobia! Also apparent in the water was a crowned head. Given the theme of fear, this had to be Oliver Cromwell, who refused to wear the royal crown for fear that God would not forgive him claiming to be King.
The amazing array of creatures and little scenes that the punter has unwittingly churned up emphasises what pareidolia drawing shares with storytelling.
My favourite spot is the lower left corner, where two folks are gossiping in the punt's wake as one listens in and another looks on.
And, can you find three eels in this drawing?