Encounters With Orca
Wildlife encounters are always special, whatever the size and stature of the creature. However, there’s definitely something extra magical about an encounter with a pod of orca- and an encounter with a pod back in March was so wonderful it inspired a series of watercolour paintings!
We’d sailed up to Nanoose Bay on the central coast of Vancouver Island so we could experience the West Coast's last significant herring run. When these little fish come together to breed they attract the bigger fish who like to feast on them, plus a host of eagles, seals, sea lions and sea birds.
The result is an incredible gathering of wildlife. The air rings with the barks and grunts of sea lions, and the rocks and trees are filled with eagles. Gulls and cormorants gather in their hundreds, and smaller wading birds and diving ducks arrive to munch on the roe. We anchored near Wallis Point and watched as the water turned turquoise with milt and eggs, then explored the shoreline where the seaweed was covered with opalescent roe.
I was surrounded by sketching inspiration, and then one afternoon the orcas arrived.
We were out in the dinghy at the time, watching the pinipeds relaxing with their flippers in the air. The mood of the sea lions changed suddenly- and we saw the blows of three orca.
The trio were Biggs orca- skilled predators who will happily munch on other marine mammals. The agitated sea lions knew this, and made a beeline for shore- swimming swiftly towards us with the three orca in pursuit. We didn’t fancy being boarded by a terrified male sea lion, so we gently moved into the shallows, well out of the way of the action.
The orca put on quite a show, slapping the water with their tails and spyhopping across the bay. We’re not sure if they were hunting sea lions or catching fish, but there was a lot of activity going on! Scientists don’t know why orca slap the water with their tails- a move called tail lobbing- though it might be for communication, to display agitation or to stun or direct prey. Whatever the reason, the splash of the flipping tail is phenomenal- and so is the noise!
Every so often we’d lose track of the orca, but they’d soon pop up again with a misty exhalation. Eventually they vanished for good. We’re not sure whether they left or if they headed further into the bay- but a very nervous gang of sea lions spent the night on the rocks behind Island Prism.
Back in Victoria, I managed to get my photos from camera to computer and was delighted when they looked good enough to paint from. I loved the soft mist of the orca’s blows, and decided I wanted to try painting it. I started off playing with painting wet-in-wet, dropping paint onto damp paper so it spread and left soft edges. It took me a few experiments to reach a technique I was happy with, then I sketched my favourite photos onto squares of paper.
The misty blows made me think of mist on the mountainsides too, and about the way my breathing slows down and I relax when I’m around the salty scent of the ocean. A few landscapes joined the collection, along with some poised great blue herons, who always look like they’re taking in the sea view (even though they’re more interested in fish).
The result is ‘A Breath of Ocean’, a collection of coastlines and wildlife in dusky blues and dreamy greens, inspired by ocean air, salt spray and the exhalations of orca. These little gems are sized between 5” x 5” and 8” x 10”.
The collection launches on Sunday 30th May and I’m really excited to share it with you! If you’re on the Collector’s List you’ll get early access to the virtual gallery at noon PST (if you’re not on the list, sign up with the form below).
