LAKE LEGENDS OF THE WORLD
Art Collection by Sheila Barrera

- Lake Legends Of The World Once upon a time there was a man named Bucky... that's how it all began, back in 1985. Bucky took me out for a sail on Willsoboro Bay, Lake Champlain, (The lake borders on New York State, Vermont and Canada) and told me a "tall one" all about how he'd seen the legendary "Champ" early one morn... the only trouble was, while he told me the tale he seemed so convincing, so sure he'd seen what he said he'd seen, that I later wondered if his final smirk and "confession" he'd made it all up were really the "tale" instead... I guess I'll never know. The perfect mystery! Below is the painting inspired by Bucky's story.

CHAMP: America's Loch Nessie, oil on canvas, 24 by 36 inches (30 by 42 inches, framed)

© 1990 Barrera for further information: INFO ABOUT A GALLERY SHOWING OF SHEILA'S "CHAMP" PAINTING

Or, please email me at:
thebarreras@earthlink.net

Anyway, Bucky and his story started me on a quest, interviewing folks who say they have witnessed a sighting, contacting scientists conducting research at Loch Ness, Lake Erie and many other lakes all over the world and studying native legends, etc. In fact, I found over 300 lakes where sightings may have occurred. In doing all of this, I was (of course!) inspired to paint... and have completed over 150 paintings on the subject so far.

"Bessie," who was named by a newspaper contest, was seen on several separate occasions during the summer of 1993. I spoke by phone with a Fire Inspector from the area who happened to look out the window of a building by the shore that he'd been inspecting... he said at first what he thought he saw was a break wall about 30 feet out from the shore, then as he was thinking that the plans for the place hadn't included one, it submerged! He described it as having been quite long, maybe 60 ft., and straight. He claimed that what he'd seen had had a lifelike quality to it, though he had not seen a head on it. Just to be certain, he called the Coast Guard and asked if any submarines had been in the area. He knew the answer would be no; it was. He said he thought long and hard about what he'd seen (and discussed it with the 2 other inspectors who also saw it) and they didn't want to say for certain that it was the "monster" that the press had been reporting... but they knew they had seen "something!"

If the creatures do exist, and I have met many other folks who claim to have seen one as well, it is believed that they are either some kind of dinosaur that survived the ice age or maybe a type of ocean fish that has been land locked and evolved according to such circumstances. My guess is that they could be the later, possibly an oarfish (genus Regalecus) which is a deep sea fish. These have been reported to be as long as 30 feet and could well be the source of many sea serpent sightings and legends.

"BUNYIP IN THE BILLABONG, MURRAY RIVER BASIN, AUSTRALIA" watercolor, 18 by 24 inches

"THOR'S HAMMER PENDANT," solid sterling silver, 2 inches long

On page two of my Lake Legends page, you can read some stories about what some folks say they have seen... and see some more of my art, of course!
[Go to the SECOND Lake Legends page] [Or return the first section of my SHOWCASE] [Go to the third section of my SHOWCASE] [Go to the fourth section of my SHOWCASE] [MY FAMILY'S HOME PAGE]

Please email me with your comments or suggestions: I can be reached at: thebarreras@earthlink.net

For further information about lake sightings & legends (and related subjects), you may wish to visit this WEBsite:
FATE Magazine, True Reports of the Strange & Unknown

And for a place to browse art:
WORLD WIDE ARTS RESOURCES

Last edited 26 MARCH 1996

Click to see more great pages on Arts & Literature.

LAKE LEGENDS OF THE WORLDArt Collection by Sheila Barrera

LAKE LEGENDS OF THE WORLD
Art Collection by Sheila Barrera