Sea Babies 18 and 19 Embrace by Robert Kline

Sea Babies 18 and 19 – Embrace 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:

Beautiful Sea Babies were on the horizon, yet, the worst argument of Sir Edmund Roberts’ voyage was at hand. It occurred when the naturalist suggested to his very pregnant wife the wisdom of a side trip to the frigid waters near the south pole. “It would be a capital idea, dearest!” he proclaimed, “The cool air might improve your disposition!” Clutching her very swollen tummy, she responded in a trice, “Having no back ache would improve my disposition, you imbecile! Food that would remain claim in my stomach would help my disposition, you blithering idiot! Fewer kicks and prods from my interior would benefit my disposition you unthinking dolt! The company of an intelligent woman would enhance my disposition, you ham-handed, ignorant boor; and certainly, the presence of one sensitive man would buoy my disposition, you foolish nincompoop! An unmoving floor beneath my feet; and since you apparently do not understand such matters, a feather bed with down comforters and soft pillows would definitely aid my disposition, you nit-wit—though you would rather think of underwater machines and other women! And truth be known, a land with absolutely no men would probably allow my disposition to soar to heights unimagined, sir. If you are aware of such a place, please direct our helmsman!” She was still speaking as Sir Edmund backed away to the sanity of the hold, obsessively to supervise the finishing touches on his submarine. Gnarly Dan wisely accompanied him, whispering as they retreated, “This’d be a fine time at be a bit more quite, Yer honor; our Cap is close to mutiny if ya ain’t noticed.”

It was shortly after they were below decks that both men heard the helmsman alert and sails altered as the good H.M.S Baci did indeed turn her course southward toward the land of ice. Sir Edmund and Gnarly Dan exchanged glances without comment. They sailed to the icy waters, had a wonderful, if frustrating, adventure regarding a ghost ship, and later encountered an iceberg populated with penguins and Sea Babies.

“They’s just makin’ friends a’ locals,” Gnarly Dan explained. “Yer Sea Baby’d be as open an’ friendly as any gob could wish.” They lowered Halley’s patented diving apparatus, from whose window Sir Edmund immediately spied a brace of Sea Babies embracing. Gnarly Dan explained “They mums is prob’ly around’ somewhere, hobnobbin like they does, an’ they pa’s is likely off wrestin’ sea lions or some such sport.” They’d allowed the aging seamen, Rodin, to accompany them. He studied the pair of sea creatures wistfully and finally added, “Ain’t nothin’ a man can create better’n babies.”

Sir Edmunds journal reads:
Phantom ships and frolicking Sea Babies. Ice birds (penguins!) and ice islands. My new bride is full with the bloom of life, though a bit piquant for my taste (this dangerous observation confided to the obscurity of my journal).

Sea Babies 18 and 19
Quite healthy. Apparently happy. Beautiful coloration.
May 5, 1836 – Queen Maud’s Land

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