Sea Babies conference by Robert Kline

Sea Babies conference by Robert Kline

This beautiful Sea Babies 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. The illustrations are from Robert’s novel The Forgotten Voyage of H.M.S. Baci in which Sir Edmund Roberts describes in his log, his various Sea Maiden, Sea Baby and Sea Master sightings. The following is a hint of what is written in the excerpt for this illustration:

Laughing Phillip was at the masthead chuckling to himself, when he spied a remarkable little spit of an island. “HA! HA! LAND HO! HARD ON THE STARBOARD BOW! HO! HO! AND AIN’T IT ‘A COVERED WITH SEA BABIES! HA!”

The news roared through the ship like a pistol ball through butter. “Get his honor!” “Find Sir Edmund! Tell him we gots Sea Babies on the horizon!”
The naturalist was besides himself when they finally reached the island, lowered a boat and rowed to explore. Hundreds of Sea Babies of every make and model cavorted on the broad sand. Old Gnarly Dan tugged at the thatch of hair escaping his ear and provided colorful commentary as Sir Edmund looked and listened, pointing here, there and everywhere at the wiggling, crawling and cooing assemblage.

“They’d be happy right now!” Gnarly Dan instructed “ They mums come here but once a year. Sir Edmund was confused. “My good man, I see no mothers. Why, these babies are unattended. Perhaps disaster has struck!”Gnarly Dan scoffed at the naturalist’s ignorance. “Why ‘a course they ain’t right here!” He then turned and pointed to an area beyond the Baci. While the ocean was calm, the area the old salt indicated roiled gently, bubbles breaking the surface to and fro. “They mum’s ‘d be out there. They’s hobnobbin’ na’ cathin’ up on Sea Maiden news. They all meets here, then leaves the young ‘uns on the island an’ slips off for a watch or two at just be together an’ chat.” “Why would they do such a thing?” Sir Edmund inquired, obviously at a loss.
Gnarly Dan looked at the naturalist as if he’s been born that morning. “Has his honor ever been in close quarters with a little ‘un day after day?” Sir Edmund shook his head and answered, “My good man, I have no children.” The old salt squinted at the naturalist. “Well mark me word. Gov’ner; them mums need at get away or they’ll go daft. At last count I got ‘bout a dozen or so little nippers me self an’ a good three year voyage is a nice break. It’s why I goes ta sea.”

Sir Edmund’s journal reads:
Wondrous sightings! Sea Babies everywhere! The third group we studied was to all appearances holding some sort of Sea Baby conference! Gnarly Dan claims their distinct coloration assures nothing more than distant relationship. Says he, “They could be five mums what calls ‘em hers, or as few as one. All them tails tells a gob is that they comes from the same place on the chart. Could be they’s never laid eyes on one another ‘til this watch through. You can be sure they mums is fast friends by now. Nothin’ opens a Sea Maiden’s heart like a child. It’s like they ain’t had but half a life ‘til they gets a little nipper or two at round things out.” How droll.

Sea Babies 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16
Sex Indeterminate. Infantus Curious. Diminished height. Light weight. Short, curly hair. Tails of clown fish.
Sighted on an uncharted island. May6, 1834

This illustration is available for purchase in the following matted sizes: 5″ x 7″, 8″ x 10″, 11″ x 14″ and an 11″ x 17″ that comes unmatted on a piece of 1/4″ foam board.

Purchase prints here