Sea Maiden 6 Emily with yellow fin tuna - Art and story by Robert Kline
Sea Maiden 6 Emily with Yellowfin Tuna
Mermaid art and story by Robert Kline
This is a retired mermaid art print and is therefore limited in supply. This print is only available in the following matted sizes: 5″ x 7″, 8″ x 10″ and 11″ x 14″.
This beautiful mermaid illustration is from a collection of Sea Maidens (mermaids), Sea Babies (mermaid babies), Sea Masters (merman), pirates and fairies created by renowned artist and novelist Robert Kline of St. Augustine, Florida. This lovely mermaid illustration has been derived from his book The Forgotten Voyage of the H.M.S. Baci. The print is a lithograph reproduction of Robert’s original pencil and watercolor painting. It has been hand labeled and hand signed by Robert in pencil. All of the prints come with a 1/4″ foam backing and the 5×7′s, 8×10′s, 11×14′s are matted sizes so all you need is a frame and they are ready to hang on your wall! Each of the prints come with an excerpt from Robert Kline’s novel The Forgotten Voyage of H.M.S. Baci in which multiple generations of the Roberts’ family explore the seven seas in search of the world’s mermaid and merman population. The following is the excerpt for this print:
When Edmund C. Roberts brought his steamship and had it refurbish inside and out he believed that he was creating his own private island, his escape, his floating kingdom. Every naval gadget available in 1912 was purchased and installed. His quarters extended from the bridge aft; room after room as opulent and comfortable as any available on shore. There was not a hotel in London that could compare. Once the overhaul was complete and the ship provisioned, hawsers cast loose from the Portsmouth pier. A few wives and children stood in the morning damp and waved as the Baci Finale’s triple expansion steam engineincreased its cadence, but there was on one who would miss Edmund C.. He had no family interested in his welfare, and every female of his acquaintance had been alienated months before. As the ship’s sooty cloud drifted over the dock Edmund C. turned to his captain and instructed, “Take us out of England waters and onto the high sea, if your will. Let us begin.” He had every expectation that he was simplifying his life. He had a competent crew, a well-found ship and enough money to steam to Mars and back were it possible. He was leaving behind polite society, formal balls and an unending progression of available women. There could be no romantic complications now.
Well into the voyage he still hadn’t perfected the art of landing his Bleriot XI aeroplane onto the makeshift landing deck on the good ship, Baci Finale. He had already wrecked the flimsy aeroplane four times, taxing his restoration crew to it’s limit. Twice, he had smashed enough of his Anzani 3 cylinder engine to make repair impossible and replacement the only option. As many times he had destroyed his landing gear, and three times, at least one of the wood and fabric wings had required extensive reconstruction. It was as he inspected the latest repairs that his life stumbled back to complex. Henry, his mechanic, ran his hand idly over the aeroplane’s propeller. “Boss, ya can’t keep wreckin’ these things—they ain’t at be had like candy, ya know.” There was flinty silence as Edmund C. suffered the implied criticism of his flying skills. Fritz, his German carpenter and thus incharge of the sticks and cloth end of the aeronautical wonder, interrupted the quiet. “plenty of fabric. Ein forest of wood—vee haf no lack of lumber. As long as herr Roberts can climb back on, vee kann keep up our end.”
The young aviator ignored both and stared at his Bleriot. Until Alex, Fritz’s son and apprentice spoke. Edmund had always found the carpenters offspring unnerving—soft spoken when he opened his mouth, reclusive to a fault when not working on the Bleriot, and always moving to the shadows and staring anytime Edmund C. appeared. “You need the Rhone,” Alex said, surprising everyone. It’s more powerful; you’ll have more control. You’re underpowered now.” Edmund C. flared. He turned toward the youth standing at the opposite side of the aeroplane. Stick to sewing on patches; you may interject your opinion when you’re a man.” “That’ll be a long wait,” Alex answered, mumbling once more. “And why is that?” Edmund taunted.
Fritz cringed as Alex came around the aeroplane and walked up to his boss. “Because I’m a girl. I’m a woman—a fraulein!” she added for good measure as she threw her baggy hat to the deck. Edmund C. Roberts’ jaw dropped. He narrowed his eyes and examined Alex to ascertain the joke, but the more he looked, the more apparent it became that the person in front of him was indeed female—board shouldered to be sure, a bit masculine of face—though in a remarkably pleasant way—but now that he really paid attention; a women. Her hair was short, but released from the ever present wool cap it framed a girl’s face. Edmund turned back to Fritz.
“I never denied das ist mein taughter!” the carpenter rejoined. Edmund C. turned on his heel and retreated. We’ll discuss this later,” was all he could manage. His journal entry for day mentions only the Sea Maiden he sighted while pouting in his diving bell.
Maidenus confoundus “Emily” (His mother’s name)
Sighted in the company of a big fish (A yellow fin tuna). My journey has taken a turn.
