Local actress, Michelle Papaycik, hosted a mermaid-themed photo shoot party at Driftwood Boneyard (Big Talbot Island, Jacksonville Fl). Photographers and beach lovers were encouraged to spend as long as they wanted taking pictures and soaking up the sun. Usually, photo shoots are a challenge to sketch since models vogue quickly for the camera and then change poses incessantly. I figured that a mermaid might not move around quite as much on the beach since the large tail might slow her down.
Half way on my drive to the beach I got a message that the main contingent of people going were running late. I had seen pictures of the beach and decided it was worth the trip just to take the time to sketch the driftwood beach. I brought along a tent to keep myself out of the sun while I worked. There was a nice long sandy trail that lead down to the beach, and once there it really felt like another world. All the plentiful driftwood created wonderful patterns against the sand.
I figured I could beach a few mermaids in my sketch once hey washed ashore. Unfortunately, mermaids never appeared. But I had a decent sketch and decided to get back on the road to Orlando. My passenger side mirror had been demolished by a garbage can, so I was a bit blind when people passed me on the passenger side. So, on the drive I stayed in the right hand lane and just accepted that I might need to slow down on occasion as cars entered and exited from the highway. I’ve since fixed the mirror which is wedged in with an eraser. This amazing beach was well worth the visit.