Have I mentioned how much I like weird things?
And Cryptids?
Weird cryptids make some of the most fun things to draw and paint. This one was no different. On top of getting to draw one of the strangest cryptid encounters I have heard of…and one that I am still willing to bet involve a hallucinogen or two, it also gave me the opportunity to include some horribly colored mid century modern washer and driers to set the right timeline for the event.
At any rate this piece is a 9×12 gouache painting, commemorating the story from Puget Sound, in Bremerton Washington. If you haven’t heard it, here is what happened.
Giant Shrimp in the Laundry Room
Once upon a time, in a quaint coastal town named Seabrook, there was a small, charming house owned by a woman named Clara. Clara lived alone, but she was never lonely. Her house was filled with the memories of her late husband and the frequent visits from her children and grandchildren. Clara was known for her meticulous nature, especially when it came to her home. Every corner was spotless, and everything had its place.
One sunny afternoon, Clara decided it was time to do her weekly laundry. She gathered the linens, towels, and clothes and made her way to the basement, where her laundry room was located. The basement was dimly lit, with a single bulb hanging from the ceiling. It was a bit musty but otherwise clean and organized, just like the rest of Clara’s home.
As she opened the door to the laundry room, Clara was startled to see something unusual on the floor. There, near the washing machine, was a giant shrimp. It was unlike any shrimp she had ever seen. This shrimp was about three feet long, with enormous, waving antennae and gleaming, iridescent exoskeleton. Its eyes, black and beady, seemed to watch her every move.
Clara froze, her heart pounding. “What on earth is that doing here?” she whispered to herself. She had never seen such a creature in her life, let alone in her own home. The shrimp made no attempt to move, but its presence was undeniably unsettling.
Summoning her courage, Clara slowly backed out of the laundry room and closed the door. She quickly went upstairs to call her friend Margaret, who was known for her knowledge of marine life. Margaret lived a few blocks away and agreed to come over immediately.
When Margaret arrived, she and Clara cautiously made their way back to the basement. Armed with a flashlight and a broom, they opened the laundry room door once again. The shrimp was still there, unmoving, but its antennae twitched slightly.
Margaret, with her background in marine biology, was equally baffled. “I’ve never seen anything like this in our waters,” she said. “It looks like a species of deep-sea shrimp, but how it ended up in your laundry room is beyond me.”
The two women decided that the shrimp needed to be relocated, but they didn’t want to harm it. Using a large laundry basket and the broom, they managed to gently coax the shrimp into the basket. It was surprisingly cooperative, almost as if it understood they were trying to help.
With the shrimp safely contained, they carried it upstairs and out to Clara’s backyard. There, they placed the basket near the small pond Clara had lovingly maintained for years. Margaret suggested they call the local marine research center to report their discovery and get advice on what to do next.
Within an hour, a team of marine biologists arrived at Clara’s house. They were equally astonished by the giant shrimp. After examining it, they concluded that it was indeed a deep-sea species, possibly brought to the surface by recent underwater volcanic activity that had disrupted marine habitats.
The biologists carefully transported the shrimp to their research facility for further study, promising Clara and Margaret that they would take good care of it. Clara was relieved to have her laundry room back to normal but couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder about the strange visitor.
Over the next few weeks, the story of the giant shrimp spread throughout Seabrook. Clara became somewhat of a local celebrity, and her house was affectionately nicknamed “Shrimp Haven.” The marine research center even invited her to visit and learn more about the shrimp and the deep-sea environment it came from.
Though the giant shrimp’s visit was brief, it left a lasting impression on Clara and her community. It was a reminder of the mysteries that lie beneath the ocean’s surface and the unexpected wonders that can appear in the most ordinary places.
