Hearts Desire - LE

Siren Series: Whether you call them sirens or mermaids, legend has it that they have been associated with mysterious disappearances. Stories describe mortals falling madly in love with these majestic beauties and their melodic wonder, never again to return to the plain and mundane lives they previously lead. Some even say these mysterious creatures have RESCUED various sea-going sailors in a time of great need. Others tell stories of the more mischievous nature… some say these “darlings” purposely lead their unsuspecting prey into danger. Were these disappearances merely a result of impassioned love, the folly of a lustful sailor, or something even more malevolent? You decide!

Hearts Desire: Upon first glance, she is a sight to behold with dreamy eyes, enticing figure and smooth flesh. Many might mistaken her as merely a beautiful maiden in the sea. But as one looks closer, the mammalian tail fin is most definitely attached and it appears as though her webbed fingers contain the smallest remains of blood in her nail beds. Perhaps an earlier fish meal? Or maybe she fought off a shark, as dolphins and whales are known to do. What do you think? Contemplate this, as she listens for the heartbeat of a crew-member.

Is this siren the apparition of a lonely sailor’s wish come true? Is she the kind of creature that would rescue your poor soul in a time of peril? Or is she a malevolent being that plans to lure you in with her beauty, only to take you away with her into unknown realms... never to be seen or heard from again? Either way, you will fall madly in love with her. Hearts Desire is the second chalk-pastel painting Kristina had ever created. Her sister, Dangers Ahead, was her third. Both originals were created on standard-sized 18” x 24” colored Canson paper with a charcoal under-layer and Prismacolor chalk pastels.