With Deep Blue Utopia, I wanted to capture a feeling and a wish. I’ve painted a dreamlike underwater world, the kind you’d hope to stumble upon the moment you slip on your goggles and peek beneath the surface. Three whales drift gracefully through the water, free and at ease, while three playful seals weave and swirl around them. The scene feels warm and comforting, like being wrapped in a soft blue blanket.
The kelp glows where it touches the animals, a gentle reminder of how deeply these creatures shape the life of the ocean. Is this vision real? Perhaps, on rare and lucky days. But such perfect harmony is hard to find in our struggling seas. My hope is that this artwork sparks a longing for balance, a vision worth striving for beneath the waves.
Nina Valkhoff