Original watercolour, gouache and pastel with Swarovski crystals.
Artwork dimensions: 84 x 59cm
Framed dimensions: 108 x 82 cm
This original painting ships triple mounted in a Italian white curved frame.
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Description of Shimmering Seas
Shimmering Seas is a jewel-like underwater dreamscape that draws the viewer into a luminous kelp forest alive with movement, colour, and hidden wonder. The composition is densely layered, inviting slow discovery, as if drifting through a living reef where every inch pulses with energy.
Golden ribbons of kelp sweep diagonally across a deep indigo and turquoise ocean, their sinuous forms creating a rhythmic flow that guides the eye through the painting. Suspended among the kelp are translucent jellyfish, their softly glowing bells and trailing tentacles rendered with an ethereal delicacy. Swarovski crystals are embedded throughout the painting, catching the light like refracted sunlight filtering through water, lending the entire work a literal and symbolic shimmer.
The seafloor below is richly populated with marine life, each creature meticulously detailed and stylized. Seahorses curl gracefully among coral branches, octopuses extend textured arms in quiet motion, and crustaceans, shells, and anemones cluster together in a vibrant tapestry of life. Coral forms explode in pinks, reds, yellows, and electric blues, contrasting against cooler aquatic tones and creating a sense of depth and abundance. Pearlescent highlights and crystalline accents sparkle across shells, bubbles, and scales, enhancing the illusion of movement and light.
The painting balances realism with fantasy: while the marine species are recognizable, their colors, patterns, and ornamentation are heightened to a surreal, almost enchanted level. The surface is richly textured, with intricate mark-making and layered media that give the impression of both delicacy and complexity. The Swarovski crystals act as points of light, mimicking air bubbles, bioluminescence, and glints of sun, transforming the artwork as the viewing angle changes.
Overall, Shimmering Seas is a celebration of oceanic beauty and biodiversity—a vibrant, luxurious homage to the underwater world. It evokes wonder, serenity, and awe, capturing the magic of a hidden realm where life glows, drifts, and sparkles beneath the surface.
