I thought of love when I painted this watercolour illustration. Do you know that there are some fishes which are monogamous? Oh yes...the [French Angelfish](is one of them https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/is-it-love-why-some-ocean-animals-sort-of-mate-for-life-16907109/) I thought of love as being a dance. A dance with two people who are whole by themselves. I do not believe in the “you are my other half” theory. I think that we need to feel whole, to be happy on our own before even considering a romantic relationship.
As I thought about fishes, love and wholeness I started this project. Love gives you wings and it makes you believe that you can achieve anything with the support of your partner. At least this is what healthy love should feel like. From each fish in the illustration you can see a small sprout of vegetation with flowers and leaves coming out from their wings. This is a metaphor for inner growth. A relationship challenges us, making us discover new things about ourselves. We become better and enhance our vision about life.
The waves through which we go through, especially in adversity, become a bonding agent. With the right partner you can go through any storm as you have the confidence that your foundation will stand firm despite any setbacks. It is lovely to cruise around on a silent sea, but who would dare to face the angry ocean in the midst of a turbulent storm? Life is organic and relationships will be put to the test. It is in these moments that we unite deciding to be happy together facing the problem instead of making the other be the problem.
I wanted this watercolour illustration to be about togetherness and duality. A failed relationship is the creation of two people because it is a dance. It takes two to dance in harmony or in chaos and perhaps this is hard to read and understand in the midst of the emotional turmoil.
As the partners dance they create they own little words, their own whirpool and waves. As they swim in the ocean, dealing with other issues as well , they make the time to do their own dance and listen to their own music. And this is the power of a relationship: creating a safe haven in the midst of a grand world.
A video with details from this painting
