Observations & Adaptations

I was commissioned this piece by a Collector, who was looking to surprise his wife, as she had previously seen another one of my pieces (Spring Awakening) but imagined it with octopus tentacles coming out of the eyes instead of florals. When he asked me to help bring this vision to life, I was honoured and enjoyed finding ways to add a personal touch, and made sure there were fun aspects to discover, every time they look at the painting, such as lines from their favourite H.P. Lovecraft books.

I called it Observations & Adaptations to signify the ups and downs of marriage, and as I painted, I thought about it as a prophecy for their future, that they continue to put their marriage first as the years go on, building a stronger marriage every day, and to be an example for their children, to show them what a successful, loving and respectful marriage looks like. I loved the idea of an octopus, to signify this adaptation, as octopi adapt in so many ways to their environment - whether its by camouflage, adjusting the colour of its skin to blend in with the ocean floor, or by shifting their bodies to slip through the smallest of spaces. A great lesson to learn from the octopus - the world around us changes constantly, and we learn to adapt and adjust to our surroundings, while still remaining true to who we are at our core.

Size: 24 x 30 (inches)
Medium: Mixed Media and Oil paint
Surface: Gallery Wrapped Canvas