Squid and Squalene

30” X 15” X 1.5”

Acrylic on Canvas 

As I started working this tall, elongated piece, I painted swooshed lines of color throughout, and I played around with adding additional semi-circles and curved lines. Soon, I began seeing arm-like tentacles in the composition. I then started thinking about title ideas. I liked the notion of an abstract, geometric squid, and set out to find another “Squ” word to complete an alliterated title. I was intrigued with how squalene worked with squid. I was equally happy when I found out squalene was shark liver oil. Two marine animals, a perfect pairing. And now this squid inspired painting reminds me of a story.

For a winter getaway one year, my wife, Robin and I drove to Hood River Oregon. We enjoyed the sights and sounds and shopping of this enchanted Northwest town. Slushy roads, charcoal skies, and snowy hillsides made this winter scene more wintery.

One evening we took a brisk stroll in search of an old house that had been turned into a cozy restaurant. When we arrived, we found that the atmosphere was warm, the lights were dim, and the décor was charming. After being seated, Robin and I began perusing the menu. As I looked over their selections of gourmet burgers and fries, Robin browsed the seafood section. When my deluxe bacon burger and thick cut fries arrived, the tantalizing aroma caused my mouth to water. Everything was perfect until Robin’s meal was served.

On her plate lay this glowing, purplish, brownish, golden alien life form. I wasn’t sure what it was at first, but it looked like squid. “Is that calamari?” I asked. “No,” she assured me. “Well, it looks like a tentacle,” I exclaimed. “It is a tentacle, but its octopi,” she explained. “It looks disgusting,” I told her. “Oh, it’s yummy,” she said as she prepared to eat the beast of the sea. I kept staring at this glowing arm-like thing with its rubbery looking suckers, seemingly covered in squalene, thinking how foreign it looked on her plate, and hoping it didn’t rise from the dinner table and strangle me to death!