The Real Heart of the Sea

This piece was actually originally inspired by a sharply slanted looking mountain image that I was going to use as a reference for a character's hidden lair. However, as I continued sketching and changing my ideas, I started to be more inspired to create an undersea palace made from clams and things, which eventually gave me this idea to create what I call "The Real Heart of the Sea". Inspired partially by the movies 'The Titanic' and 'Moana' I wanted to create a magical scene where a diver might come across a hidden area that holds a glowing and mystical stone known as the Heart of the Sea. This heart keeps the seas flowing and living and at peace. Unfortunately, if this were a real thing, it seems that it's life seems to be fading along with our oceans.

I really loved working on this piece because when I first started, I really had no idea where I was going to take it. My ideas and inspirations continuously developed throughout this image, so it was constantly changing. This is partially why the canvas was enlarged and the sketch looks completely different. I had a lot of fun letting myself run a little wild with this one.