Shackleton’s Ship Endurance Found!

I still think it’s so cool that they found Endurance after all these years! Waiting, hidden under the ice, in the depths of Weddell Sea. The wreck was uncovered on the 5th of March 2022, which also happened to be the 100th anniversary of Shackleton’s funeral! Apparently she’s in pretty good nick and looking much the same as she did in the final footage taken of her by Frank Hurley in 1915, just before she sank.

I’m fascinated by Antarctic exploration. Particularly so by Shackleton’s famous expedition which inspired my work for our Drawn Chorus Exhibition ‘There and Back Again’ in 2017 (you can check it out here on my website if you missed it!). I might have to revisit the Endurance in my illustrations once more, especially now she’s home to a variety of ethereal deep sea creatures that would be awesome to draw!

As she was found in Antarctic waters, there she will remain! The wreck is now a designated monument under the Antarctic treaty and cannot be disturbed or moved. The search was carried out by the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, who used a South African Icebreaker ‘Agulhas II’ and submersible technology to discover Endurance. Her name and star are still clearly visible 107 years after she was lost. What an incredible find!

Video by ABC News shared here without permission. Illustration by Owlstation.

Forest Guardian

I’ve been drawing figurines from ancient civilisations for an experimental personal project this afternoon. Which do you think would make a good ‘Forest Guardian’ from the line up below? I personally quite like the little blue fellow, but let me know what you think in the comments…and Happy Friday! 🙂

Ancient Things

I’ve really been missing being able to go to museums and galleries for a fix of archaeology and culture. To look at ancient relics and sketch antiquities. So I was very pleased to discover London Drawing Group’s ‘LDG On Demand‘ lectures and live Zoom events. I first came across LDG when I was looking for life drawing sessions in London, and after attending (pre pandemic!) I signed up to their newsletters. Since lockdown, they’ve been creating a brilliant array of events across a wide range of topics and I recently watched my first lecture!

Sacred Feminine: The Goddess in Prehistory, was a fascinating look at the ‘Venus’ figurines (such as the Venus of Willendorf, pictured above) and sculptures that popup throughout early history and around the world. In the lecture, given by Luisa-Maria MacCormack, we learn about different theories and possibilities surrounding the creation of these beautiful pieces, as well as the message that we need to be more inclusive and open when forming archaeological and anthropological opinions.

But I will let you discover the lecture and learn directly from Luisa about this yourselves! I’m looking forward to checking out more of the LDG lectures soon, which include other interesting topics such as; surrealist women and female sexuality and the male gaze in art history.

I’ve always been fascinated by archaeology and find it an endless source of inspiration for my drawings and creative projects. If, like me, you’re missing museums and are looking for a little hit of ancient treasures, you might enjoy my ‘Ancient Things’ Pinterest board – a random selection of inspiring artefacts that I’ve pinned from my internet travels. You could even pair it with a bit of Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider soundtrack if you’re really looking to get into the mood! Hopefully it won’t be too long before museums and galleries can open again and I’ll see you there when they do!

Disclaimer: I am very much a hobbyist in archaeology, my Pinterest boards and writings on this blog come from a place of artistic interest and as such are not likely to be historically accurate! You have been warned 😉

Images from Wikimedia Commons: 1. The Lady of Catal Hoyuk 2. The Venus of Willendorf 3. The Venus of Hohle Fels