Original artwork description:

Double Edged Sword
“‘This is my wish!’ the little mermaid said and was deathly pale. ‘But you must also pay me!’ the witch said, ‘and what I am asking for is no trifle. You have the loveliest voice of all those here on the sea-bed, and you count on entrancing him with it, but that voice you must give to me. I must have the best thing you own for my precious drink! I must give you of my own blood for the drink, so that it can be as sharp as a double-edged sword

This is a quote from the original, and very dark tale of The Little Mermaid, by Hans Christian Anderson, this inspired the painting and the title of this piece.

This painting is 21x29.5cm painted on wood panel, the surface is smooth, I have worked here are many, many layers of paint and ink and varnish, the texture is tactile, with crackle effects and smooth finishes, you want to run your hands and your eyes over it! In the layers pearly inks and gold acrylic catch the light and the surface can almost look like water.
The image and gesture is poignant and expressive, the contrasts of gold, teal and red really makes this piece stand out.

The piece was created as part of the Den Lille Harfrue Collection – the little mermaid. Created in lockdown to express my feelings about the restrictions, being unable to have social contact and also experiencing incredibly vivid and at some times quite scary dreams, a lot based underwater.

Materials used:

Inks, acrylics, varnish on board

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