The Coral Nursery
20 x 20 cm | Oil on linen
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In the warm turquoise waters of the ocean drifts a whale with a garden on its back. Tiny coral colonies cling to the whale’s skin, offering a safe haven for the sheltering little fish.
As the whale glides through the warm shallows, fresh water and nutrients flow across the coral, keeping the microcosm alive and thriving in the sunlight. Wherever the whale swims, it releases tiny coral gametes into the area, spawning new life and carrying hope for coral reefs in the warming ocean.
In the shallows
56 x 76 cm | Watercolor and gouache
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A hammerhead in the shallows. This is my largest watercolor piece to date.
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I used salt, tissue paper and cling wrap for the background, and painted the shark and fish with a combination of watercolor and gouache.
Magic in a Mason Jar
20 x 20 cm | Oil on linen
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Escaping the greys of October and diving into a world of wonder. Who would have thought manta rays can exist in the nebulae and feed on stardust.
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I had this idea in the back of my mind for months, inspired by a simple candle jar I bought, and now I finally got around to painting it onto canvas. I didn't use any mediums, just the paint straight out of the tube, which is one of the reasons why I love water-mixable oils. They're beautifully blendable as they are, and so easy to clean!
Now they are free
60 x 80 cm | Acrylic and oil
Combining my passions once again - ocean animals + space, and abstract + realism. I love that these two eagle rays are now free to roam the galaxy.
Basking in stardust
22.9 x 30.5 cm | Watercolor and ink
This was supposed to be a sea glass seal for my collection, but I used Indigo instead of Prussian blue, and it completely changed the mood of the piece. So I embraced the mood and added a bit of gold sparkle to create this dreamy moon pinniped. It has a beautiful velvety shimmer and it looks especially good in the evenings.
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This seal is in what's called the banana pose. It means the seal feels safe and content, and it's great for thermoregulation, as seals warm up and cool down through their flippers. By lifting their head and hind flippers they allow heat to escape efficiently, or if it's cold they can quickly warm the flippers while minimizing contact with the ground.