Water Series I
Water Series I: Diving Back Into the Deep
The Ocean: A Beautiful Paradox
Water. The great unknown.
For as long as I can remember, the ocean has both calmed me and terrified me. It holds a paradoxical power — soothing one moment, overwhelming the next. I’m drawn to it with equal parts awe and apprehension. And I know I’m not alone in feeling this way. There’s something universally primal about the sea — something that stirs both memory and mystery.
Returning to the Canvas
Water Series I marks a personal renaissance — not just in subject matter, but in process. This series is my first time picking up a paintbrush in years, and it’s been equal parts nostalgic and invigorating.
The work itself is experimental, a return to the tactile joy of creating, but also a rediscovery of my artistic voice. It’s funny how returning to something after a long absence can feel like meeting an old version of yourself — one you forgot you missed.
The Origins of My Water Obsession
So where did my fascination with water actually begin?
Some might trace it back to a university art project, where I painted submerged natural materials from reference photos — an attempt at capturing the fluid distortion and otherworldly softness of underwater still lifes.
But truthfully, my heart wasn’t in it at the time. University, especially my first year, was more about dodging hangovers than digging deep into my creative self. I took the path of least resistance, recycling old ideas from school rather than pushing into new territory. My creative energy was rationed — saved mostly for playing hockey by day and going out by night. It was survival mode, not inspiration.
Back to the Beginning: Sixth Form Wonder
To really understand my connection to water, we need to rewind even further — to my final year in sixth form.
That’s when things started to click. Somehow, I managed to convince my (incredibly patient) teachers to let me build a nine-foot tall, coffin-like structure. Hollow and concave, it was meant to house imagined sea creatures — eerie plastic sculptures inspired by the deepest, darkest corners of the ocean.
I melted plastic bottles into ghostly, organic shapes with a heat gun, used a soldering iron to pierce gill-like patterns, and layered the pieces with iridescent cellophane that shimmered like oil on water. The aim was to evoke both wonder and unease — to tap into that same duality the ocean represents to me.
To heighten the effect, I projected liquid psychedelic art and swirling colour over the sculpture, channeling the aesthetic of 1980s music visuals. It was wild, messy, and intense — and I loved every second of it.
That was the moment I really felt something click. The process thrilled me, and the subject matter ignited something in me that never really left.
A New Chapter in Sydney
Nearly a decade later, I find myself once again mesmerized by water — but this time, it’s personal in a new way.
Living in Sydney, I’m surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, and it inspires me daily. The ever-changing colour of the sea, the energy of the surf, the quiet power of the coastline — it all seeps into my work in ways I’m still discovering.
I’ve also been deeply moved by the local art scene, especially the Eastern Suburbs artists who capture the land and sea in such unique ways. Their work — along with the countless talented water-inspired artists I come across on social media — keeps me motivated, curious, and hungry to grow.
Looking Ahead
Water Series I is just the beginning. A reawakening, of sorts.
This series represents more than a return to painting — it’s a reconnection to the themes and fascinations that first made me want to be an artist.
And I can’t wait to see where it takes me next.
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