Kelp Forest Paintings

Kelp forests are like the upside-down version of the forests we know on land with, giant seaweed instead of trees. Starting at the ocean surface we have the kelp canopy which like trees is the thickest part of the forest, with kelp blades (the long leaf like part) kept afloat by a bladder covering the most area. Moving deeper the stipe, or long stem like a rope, travels all the way to the sea floor where the root-like holdfast anchors everything to the ground.

Like tree forests, kelp forests provide important habitats for many types of wildlife. Unlike tree forests, kelp forests can grow very quickly – up to 18 inches a day! This diverse ecosystem is a nursery for many young fish and gives shelter to sea birds and mammals, as well as generating valuable oxygen production and carbon absorption.

Painting a kelp forest is a visual journey that brings viewers into the sea to rest in these swaying scenes of biodiversity. Kelp forest artworks can immerse us in a dreamlike ocean realm where shafts of filtered sunlight descend like golden curtains through layers of wavering green. When I’m in kelp I revel in the interplay of movement, light, and translucence, and I want to bring back art that feels peaceful and alive.

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