Saturday 29 October 2011

It's hairy and it's got lots of legs...

Don't you just hate that moment when your eye tells your brain that something's not quite right about the bath... that there's something standing out starkly against the white enamel that just shouldn't be there... The hairs on the back of your neck begin to stand on end, your body tenses and you prepare for fight or flight... or maybe in my case, grabbing the nearest beaker and sheet of card.

What is it with the giant house spider and the bath tub? Are they particularly clean creatures? Do they like the smell of my bubble bath and fancy a hot soak? Or... much more sinisterly... do they desire a bite on my ankle, then a quick run up my leg heading for the face? EEK! I'm scaring myself!

Despite my fear of those many legs running across my flesh, I always take the second bravest option to deal with the intruder. The first is naturally just to ignore it and celebrate the fact that it eats flies (and was used by my ancestors as a cure for Malaria and Leprosy... apparently... I read it in a book - you had to eat them!). My preferred method is to approach with trembling hand and nausea and place a cup (or bowl, depending on size of creature) over its many legs, poison-dripping fangs and hairy body; then I slice a sheet of card underneath and carry into the garden hoping a passing bird may take a fancy... This release back into the wild is always done at arms length with a bolt back through the door and deadlocks applied. Heart beating wildly I'll return, shaking and covered in a sheen of fear.

Spiders and I just don't mix. What possessed me to want to draw one is quite beyond me. I had intended to draw a pretty little birdie and was flicking through a nature book for inspiration; but then I got sidetracked by the Illustration Friday theme of 'scary' - influced by all these Halloween-themed programmes on TV -  so I drifted onto ideas of zombie crows until, these hairy legs just 'spoke' to me (in a sinister spider-like fashion naturally).

I kind of like the way it is unfinished and cropped close; makes you wonder what's going on and what move it's going to make next... It's looking right at you don't you know?

Posting too for Sunday Sketches. I'm sorry if I make you shiver and shudder!

25 comments:

  1. Eeek, it gave me the willies. I think it's the little hairs on the legs. Aaaaaah. I also catch them and put them outside. At least they eat other bugs! But I do not like to touch them. :)

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  2. wll I dislike spiders, I really do, but that said,, your sketch is really good, the story did creep me out though, I got the goose bumps just reading this,,

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  3. So funny, I do the same thing with taking the poor things outside. I saw a documentary once that said spiders need a lot of water and have a hard time getting it. That's why they hang out in showers.

    Love your PPF piece, you do lovely work!

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  4. Yikes!! Good drawing, but I HATE spiders!!!! Valerie

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  5. I am with you on that. Just looking at your spider makes me cringe. My reaction depends on the size of the spider and if it moves. If it just stands there I'll call for help. :) If it moves I move. Like run! :))

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  6. I don't have a fear of them--I just don't like them, and I hate to say this--I don't take them out into the wild--if they're in my house, I kill them---sorry....
    ;)

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  7. I would have saved the darn thing too! The only thing I kill are palmetto bugs. lol

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  8. I've tried so hard to appreciate spiders too, but.... eurgh. I hate it when I take the card away from the bottom of the cup to shake it out - it might run up the outside and then up my arm !!! I try to find something I can throw on the lawn!
    Great drawing.

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  9. Haha that is funny. Growing up I never understood peoples fear of spiders, but when I moved to Europe I discovered I too had that fear. And beasties seem to move into the house in spring and now. Really cool drawing :)

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  10. I love what you've done with the scary spider! You're right they do gravitate to bathrooms, but I know I should dust more!

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  11. My beloved is arachnophobic, so I have to deal with killing spiders around here... I'm not too fond of them myself, but what the heck. Once one was sitting on the toilet seat... I too wonder why they fancy bathrooms... XD

    Really awesome artwork though, love the coloring and shading!

    // -T.W-

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  12. good job on portraying a spider! yes, cropped is awesome!
    I think the spiders get around... and when they enter a tub, well they can't get back out. I am a cup and release person too~

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  13. OK....this is one FREAKY yet fabulous spider!! haha Is that even possible? :) Happy SS! Hugs

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  14. Oooooooooh! Scary and can 'feel' the texture ~ Great! ~ thanks, namaste, CArol (Share the Creative Journey) Happy SS ^_^

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  15. Even though I hate spiders, I love the way you did this! very effective!

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  16. I LOVE that you chose a spider since zombies are everywhere else. I don't share your fear of spiders... though I'm beginning to after reading this. Lol. You make them seem so evil and terrifying. I've always thought of them as good though since they eat flies, which I actually do hate.

    And I love the detail you put in the spider legs here--so creepy!

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  17. i love how you did this spider!!!! ....even capturing the little hairy legs! great perspective for us to see, too.
    nice.
    i don't like spiders, but i do the same thing...bring them back outside...i feel bad hurting them!

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  18. I love your bath time story and you did a great job of sketching the hairy invader.

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  19. oooohh...scary fun and furry fab! Love it! POP ART MINIS

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  20. it's hairy and scary.. nice sketch! be careful in ur bathtub

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  21. I think spiders are really cool....but I have to admit, the bigger they get....the less cool they become :)

    Yours is tres cool!

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  22. wonderfully done and perfect for the season!
    Spiders don't creep me out but snakes definitely send me screaming.


    joining the sunday sketch hop.

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  23. If you read my post on my arachnophobia you will know how hard I found it to look at your picture...and I must admit I quickly scrolled down so it was out of sight...you are so brave getting that close....

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  24. I call that facing your fears in a big way Lisa. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen a spider in my bathtub..I must have some dirty little spiders lurking around here.

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  25. Okay... So this post is just too scary to read! Ha! I got to the part about biting and running up the leg to the face and nearly lost it... Spiders are definitely scary. (I know I have issues... I had a spider bite on my leg that turned to cellulitis! EEEK, indeed!)

    What is not scary, is that beautiful masquerade piece in the post below... Wonderful!

    xo
    Kristin

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Thank you for your comments - I always love to hear what you think :)

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