HORSESHOE CRAB STUDY

 

Walking along the shore you are likely to come across all number of things. Occasionally we find horseshoe crabs that are either washed up on their backs or dead like this one. The live ones are turned right side up then gently directed back to the sea. The dead ones I usually draw and in this case paint. Heavy surf probably caused this ones demise as a major storm had passed a day or so before we found it - you can clearly see the broken shell on its left side. Still, I found the underside of the crab with its many claws to be interesting enough to make a painting. This watercolor was done in my sketchbook, size is 9" x 12".