Artist’s Statement: To see below the ocean’s surface and witness the profound beauty of life on a coral reef is something that few people are fortunate enough to experience. The world’s coral reefs are in trouble and they might be gone someday if we don’t take care of our oceans. I am a scuba diver and underwater photographer, and I paint marine life (and a few florals) in watercolor. Through my paintings and photographs, I want to show the beauty of coral reefs and their inhabitants to the world in hopes that they will be protected and preserved for future generations. In addition, each year I donate a percentage of my profits to coral reef conservation organizations.
I have been painting in watercolor for over 30 years. All of my paintings are done from my own photographs, memory and/or life. I also like to combine the two mediums of painting and photography, and to blur the boundary between them. With alternative photographic and printmaking processes utilizing Polaroid films, I make and hand paint my own one-of-a-kind “original” mixed media prints.
Biography: I grew up in Port Arthur, Texas and received my art training at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Fine Art. I spent 15 years in graphic design, drafting and cartography, during which time I created several pen-and-ink music concert posters for local venues. In the mid-1980’s, I moved into management, sales and marketing, and worked on my watercolor paintings on evenings and weekends. In 2001, I quit my full-time job as a high-tech marketing executive to focus on a new career in fine art.
”Green Sea Turtles” is my most popular painting. It took over 80 hours to complete. I saw this group of young sea turtles splashing around in their pool at the Key West Aquarium, and immediately thought they would make a great painting. The patterns on their shells and water reflections create a dazzling display of light and color.
I had the great fortune to dive on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and even greater fortune to see and photograph Clownfish in the wild. To me, there is now doubt, these are the most beautiful fish in the sea! “True Clown Anemonefish” is my most popular underwater photo.
To see more, visit my website at http://www.paulinewalshjacobson.com.