by laura heenan
Acrylic paint. Printing Medium
h: 45 w: 35 d: 1 (cms).
This artwork is a silkscreen print created with four distinct layers, each meticulously hand-drawn on Tervakoski tracing paper using black Posca pens. Once completed, the layers were placed on silkscreens coated in photo emulsion and exposed to a lightbox to transfer the designs. The resulting print uses a combination of Daler Rowney System 3 Acrylic paint and printing medium in a 50:50 ratio, applied to hot-pressed watercolour paper. This results in a vibrant, multi-layered artwork that captures the intricate, vibrant beauty of the coral. ‘Living Oceans’ explores how coral reefs are interconnected organisms with their own personalities. Inspired by Yellena James' work on nature's shapes, I created this artwork to highlight the plight of coral bleaching. Rising ocean temperatures expel algae from coral, causing bleaching, starvation and eventually death. Coral reefs, known as ‘rainforests of the ocean,’ support marine life and over half a billion people by providing food, income, and storm protection; therefore, their decline has severe global consequences. Growing up by the sea in New Zealand and Australia, I developed a passion for the ocean, further fuelled by my father’s Jacques Cousteau books. Though I didn’t pursue a marine career, I aim to raise awareness through my art. In this print, the white spaces represent the bleaching coral, symbolising its gradual loss of colour and life. This work reminds us of the ocean's vibrant beauty and the critical need to protect it as it faces environmental threats.
£200 (As exhibited.)
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