Whale Art Inspiration: How Snorkelling and Coastal Landscapes Shape My Orca Paintings
- andreafryettart
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
as long as I can remember, I have felt most alive near water. My whale art and orca paintings come from that lifelong connection, a bond with the ocean that carried me from snorkelling reefs in Australia to painting the coastal landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.
A Lifelong Connection to Water
Water has always been both home and teacher. As a child, I watched the way light danced across ripples and how shadows shifted with each wave. That fascination grew into a love of painting the sea. Today, my whale art is not only about whales, it is also about the atmosphere that surrounds them. The shimmering veil of light, the drifting kelp forests, and the sensation of being suspended in another world all find their way into my brushstrokes.
From Snorkelling to Whale Art
One of my clearest inspirations came while snorkelling off Rottnest Island in Australia. Beneath the surface, I was captivated by the way light fractured into ribbons, how underwater plants swayed as if in choreography, and how every movement carried mystery. That memory stayed with me long after the trip, resurfacing later in my orca paintings and other ocean-inspired artworks.
When I returned to British Columbia, I discovered that the same magic lived here at home. The tide pools along Vancouver’s rugged coast, the clear shallows of Sechelt, and the hidden life beneath Pacific waters all echoed the same wonder I had first felt in Australia. These experiences began to merge on my canvas, blending the vibrancy of tropical snorkelling with the moody tones of Pacific Northwest coastal art.
Orca Paintings Inspired by the Pacific Northwest
In my whale and orca paintings, I am drawn to the moods of this region. Fog rolls over the water, skies shift from slate grey to glowing gold, and whales rise quietly through the surface. The Pacific Northwest teaches me that beauty often hides in subtle moments, not only in brilliant sunlight but also in layers of atmosphere and quiet light.
Every orca painting becomes a reflection of this place, a meeting point between land, sea, and sky. The brushstrokes carry the weight of coastal landscapes while also echoing the rhythm of the sea.
Painting Light, Not Just the Whale
For me, painting whales has always been about more than depicting an animal. It is about painting light itself. I follow how it filters through water, how it dances across a whale’s back, and how it transforms the ordinary into something luminous. My whale art is a way of sharing the feeling of immersion, drifting below the surface, surrounded by motion, caught in a world that is both strange and familiar.
This orca series is deeply personal and also universal. For me, it is a celebration of joy, awe, and connection. For others, I hope it becomes a reminder that the ocean belongs to all of us, whether we encounter it while snorkelling in distant seas or standing at the edge of the Pacific Northwest coast.
Every brushstroke is a memory of water, a tribute to whales, and a love letter to the sea.
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