J35

This painting was inspired by the tragedy that shocked me as a resident of the Pacific Northwest. When one of our own Orca's (J35) carried her dead calf around the waters for 17 days before leaving its body. Instead of recreating the sadness captured through the photograph I saw of J35 with an unresponsive calf on her head, I wanted to make this piece to reflect the beautiful bond between mother and baby. –Artist statement