the selkie
"A Balm for Longing & Belonging"
The Selkie
Inspired by the many tellings of the Selkie story, this painting is a meditation on longing and belonging, the way the wild sea calls to something in all of us. The Selkie’s skin, her return, her refusal to be contained all are invitations to remember what feels like home.
A future heirloom.
Made with 20 years of mythic practice and trauma-informed holding, this work carries more than colour and form; it’s a companion for seekers and a future heirloom crafted to speak louder the longer you live with it.
Made to bring quiet mythic resonance into everyday spaces, crafted for those seeking sacred objects over trends
Acrylic on Canvas
152 x 102 cm
Created 2025
Ready to hang
There is a story that the sea whispers about the Selkie, a creature who walks between two worlds. Half seal, half woman, she carries the wild salt of the ocean in her skin and the yearning of the shore in her heart. In many tellings, the Selkie’s skin is hidden away by the man who claims to love her, locking her to the land and love that is not quite her own. No chain is strong enough to hold the call of the sea, and no hearth warm enough to quiet the tide inside her. She hears her kin calling out for her through the night and across the waves and she knows that she has to go. This part of the story, as told by Clarissa Pinkola Estes in her masterpiece Women Who Run With The Wolves moves me deeply:
“Everyone becomes snagged by land commitments. Yet the old one out in the sea calls everyone. Everyone must return”.
This painting holds that tension - the longing for home, the fierce refusal to be contained, and the wild joy of reclaiming one’s true self. It is a meditation on belonging that is not about place, but about essence.
Bring home a work from the Mythic Ground series
Each painting is an original artwork, created as part of my Mythic Ground: New Stories for Old Lands exhibition. These works explore the meeting point of myth, memory, and material - made with pigment as a conversation between body and landscape.
When you purchase, you’re securing your artwork with a 50% deposit. Once payment is received, I’ll personally be in touch to arrange final details such as shipping and your preferred payment timeline for the remaining balance (maximum 2 months).
If you’d like a payment plan, that’s absolutely possible - I’ll email you directly within 24 hours to finalise a simple two-part payment option.
From Mythic Ground
This work was presented with 5 other paintings as part of the Mythic Ground: New Stories for Old Lands exhibition.
Ready to Hang
The Selkie is painted on canvas stretched over wooden bars. You are able to hang the piece immediately by the wooden frame.
Discover the Story
My Substack “Mythic Ground” is a step behind the veil of my practice. It follows the thread of my imagination and creative process - with tales, reflections, and glimpses into the making of The Selkie
Ready to secure your artwork?
$3640 deposit
Full artwork price $7280 AUD
Free shipping Australia-wide
$3640 deposit
Payment Options
A 50% deposit secures your artwork.
Remaining balance may be paid in one or two instalments via invoice. The process is streamlined at the checkout.
For any questions, please reach out directly.
would you prefer a payment plan?
Deposit (50%): $3640 upfront
Balance (50%): $3640 split over 2 months
Monthly instalments: $1820/month x 2
about the artist
Claire Lefebvre
For more than twenty years, I’ve been walking a creative path shaped by stories and Nature. A path where ancient myths feel alive and pulse beneath the surface of modern life. These stories are not just tales to be told; they are companions, teachers, and gateways into deeper creative and spiritual connection.
My latest suite of paintings was born from this long journey. Each one is a retelling, a reimagining of a myth or story that has spoken to me deeply: the Selkie who remembers her wild self, the Handless Maiden’s spiral of healing and Circe’s fierce power, supported by the Natural world surrounding her… These works aren’t just paintings. They’re objects of slow magic, crafted with intention and layered with meaning (made to live with you for years). They invite slow looking, reflection, and a kind of conversation with the living world and your own creative spirit.
Art is a living mythic language. For collectors aching for the handmade and myth-infused, I create talismanic artworks and creative tools for re-enchantment, meaning and belonging.
A Personal Practice Inspired by The Selkie
As you look at this work, I invite you to reflect:
Where do you feel the call of the wild inside you?
What parts of yourself are waiting to be claimed back?
If you wish, take a moment now to journal or simply breathe into these questions. Let the sea’s rhythm guide you home.
The Selkie: A Balm for Longing & Belonging
FAQ
HOW MUCH IS SHIPPING?
Within Australia, I'm delighted to offer free shipping. Please contact me for International rates.
what is your privacy policy?
Your privacy is very important. I respect your personal information and will only use it to provide you with excellent customer service and art that you love. I will never sell, rent, or share your personal information with anyone.
Information submitted to Claire Lefebvre is only available to myself and service providers that process your order, such as Australia Post. I will keep this page updated regarding any changes to this privacy policy.
I’VE CHANGED MY MIND. CAN I RETURN MY ITEM?
Detailed product information is listed in the item description and I ask that you please choose your artwork carefully. I am unable to offer returns for change of mind.
Is the deposit refundable?
No, deposits secure your chosen artwork and are non‑refundable due to customer change of mind. This ensures the piece is held exclusively for you during the payment plan.
Can I pay it off sooner?
Yes. You’re welcome to pay the remaining balance early, simply reply to your invoice and we’ll adjust the schedule for you.
When will my artwork ship?
Artworks ship once full payment is received. Shipping is free Australia-wide for paintings.
Do you offer longer payment plans?
At this time, payment plans are set to two months to keep the process simple and grounded.