I'll bet none of you got an emu egg for Christmas! This treasure was presented to me on Christmas Eve, as my son arrived home and unpacked his cooler...a gift to me from his girlfriend, who has friends with an emu farm. I didn't know what it was until he told me—it looked like an avocado, only bigger and more blue. Isn't it amazing?
When I cut a small hole in the bottom to drain it out, I noticed that there is a lighter turquoise color under the outer dark teal, and then a white layer beneath that. If you look online, you can see all kinds of beautiful carved emu eggs, taking advantage of this unique layering of colors, but I plan on displaying as it is—it's so beautiful in its natural state. (I may have overdone the highlight a bit, but after all, that is the word of the week for Illustration Friday! It's so nice to be back on IF; I hope to be posting regularly again now that the holiday hubbub has subsided.)
Since you don't really get a sense of its actual size from my drawing, here it is next to an egg from one of my girls:
Now that I'm emu-obsessed, I found this adorable photo of some hatchlings. If I only had a bigger piece of land...!
What an awesome gift! It's such a beautiful color. And your illustration is perfect! What did you do with the insides? Scrambled eggs? If you ate it, I want to know how it tasted.
ReplyDeletePERFECT!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful present to receive! I've seen Ostrich eggs, but not an Emu's - it's such a beautiful blue - and your illustration is perfect! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteLovely illustration. I live in Australia and I have an aversion to emus. Started when I was a child. One day I turned the corner into the street leading to our house and running down the road was an emu!!! Not common in this area at all it had escaped from a farm and become disoriented. I rang my Husband and gibbered out "we have to move" he asked why and when I said "emu" he laughed! We are still here and no more emus. Cute to look at as babies and the eggs are gorgeous but I don't want one as a neighbour!
ReplyDeleteWow, I'd never seen an emu egg & had no idea they were so gorgeous! The shell looks like the night sky, & you've captured it perfectly, highlight & all!
ReplyDeleteI always thought emus were cool birds, but had no idea what an emu egg looked like until now. This is awesome - what a gorgeous shade of blue!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful drawing and a wonderful gift too. I didn't know the eggs were this colour.
ReplyDeleteoh wow what a georgeous egg :O
ReplyDeleteIt looks like some cute but fierce dragon will come out of it. But Emu's are cool too!!
Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely comment. I hope you enjoy your new crayons. I have some new ink colours,need to find time getting to know them.
Very unusual egg, fabulous colour.
Best wishes for 2012.
millyx
Beautiful colour, yours is perfect!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful illustration ... and such a special gift. Happy New Year to you.
ReplyDeleteI haven't never seen Emu's eggs (no wonder since I live in Finland). I didn't know they had such beautiful colors.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful gift and illustration
Take care
Niina
I'm from Oz as well and I can tell you emu eggs will make an omelette equivalent to a dozen hens eggs, ate one as a child but can only remember they tasted stronger than normal eggs.
ReplyDeleteLovely illustration, as is all of your work.
Gorgeous! I never knew that emu eggs were blue and so beautiful. I had to look them up on line - I was so curious to see more. Your illustration is amazing - so exact. Thanks for such an interesting and enjoyable post.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful egg and other art + thanks for the nice words on my blog
ReplyDeleteSarah...absolutely gorgeous! The color is positively delicious! And the highlight is, well..the highlight ;) So amazingly well done!!!
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, I was confused in seeing blue emu eggs. Not because of the striking color, but because emu is the Hawaiian word for roasted pig. HA! They're very beautiful. I like the subtle texture and tones you achieved in your drawing, Sarah.
ReplyDeleteWow!!! What a beautiful egg. I have only seen them in photos, not in person. Sigh. So beautiful. You illustrated it so masterfully.
ReplyDeleteEggsellent!! :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy new year Sarah, love the Emu egg, what an amazing colour!
ReplyDeletethe color is indeed beautiful....and great highlights as well!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone! I feel better knowing I'm not the only one who had no idea that emu eggs look like this!
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, thanks for you kind note on my blog. Yes, I am new to IF and blogging so any comments are thrilling!! I love your Emu egg, I had no idea they were such a lovely color. There is an ostrich/emu farm not far from where I live...I may need to see if I can get myself a beautiful blue egg!
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