the Sea Dragon- Print Club Prep
I grew up watching the Nature show on PBS and assorted nature documentaries. My mom was sure to encourage a love of the natural world through the lens of biblical Creation, which for the most part I still appreciate, while also acknowledging and respecting the truth of scientific research and education. While it is easy to dismiss information that you do not understand or agree with, a lot of the theories in these old documentaries have been disproven since the 90s (i.e. the Alpha Wolf theory), so it is best to take in the documentaries with the knowledge that they can be biased and misinformed. We have come to understand animals and nature more correctly as time moves on, and the practice will likely never be complete.
When I first came across the sea dragon when I was young, I thought there must have been a mistake in the assembly line for the creation of sea horses. Of course, this was not the case. These new creatures I had not beheld were so dreamy and whimsical, it was amazing they had such a beautiful and unique look.
There are only three species of Sea Dragons, which I find incredible. I have decided to keep on the theme of aquarium-seen animals from my visit, and gone with the Common Sea Dragon. Lovely, aren’t they?
This month’s process was much like the last few months, with extra room for digital adjustments. Learning block printing at home has limited my resources and tools, and so I often find myself frustrated with the resulting print straight from the block. Whether this is a skill issue or something else, I am sure I will learn in due time.
To start, I researched what a sea dragon is to understand what was actually happening. It appeared that they have double fins in 6 places along their back and tail, and one set of fins (Are they even qualified as fins?) on their bellies. I’m sure there is a more finite and exact explanation, but when you look at something for 5 minutes, then 10, then an hour, you are bound to see more than you ever expected. (This is one method for looking at art in museums, by the way, although I admit it has been a while since I have done it.) The amount of fine perfect detail in these silly little fish is astounding.
At the end of the day, the print club is becoming a regular part of my routine that I greatly enjoy. I am free to create within the boundaries I have given myself, and that lends to better decision-making led by limitations. Have you ever heard of how endless resources and money and time often lead to a poorer result when it comes to creative endeavors? I do apologize for not linking my references in this post, I have put it off until the last minute, so you will have to look into interviews from movie directors from the 80s to learn more about that.
Another thing: I would like to spend time creating a new edition of the print club, as I don’t want to have to wait for a year to complete this set (which was a rough idea, I may just continue on with it. That being said, I do have an interest in creating an additional series for an alternate print club in conjunction with the Marine Creatures Edition. That idea is still forming, so keep an eye out for wherever that goes! Hint: I really like birds.
That is all I have to say for now, hopefully it wasn’t too much of a ramble. Thanks for being here if you read this far, and thank you for following this journey and being a part of it! I am grateful that I am able to spend the time to do this, and maybe will break even one of these days.
The subscription to receive the Sea Dragon print is open, and this print will be available starting January 1st, 2026. All previous prints are available on my Etsy page, which can be found in the links in the top right corner.