Original Watercolor Painting - Sanctuary - Whale Tale - Lahaina, Maui Hawaii - Christie Marie Elder

Artwork Details

•    ART TITLE : Sanctuary

•    ARTIST: Christie Marie Elder

•    Art Story~ 

Sanctuary is a large original watercolor that honors the quiet majesty of a humpback whale returning to the warm waters off Lahaina, Maui. Sunlight dances across the whale’s glistening tail as it slips beneath the surface, leaving behind a luminous shimmer of movement, grace, and peace. The surrounding ocean and mountain landscape evoke Hawaii’s sacred beauty — powerful, serene, and alive with spirit.

This piece carries deep personal meaning for me. At fifteen years old, on a family trip to Maui, we walked Front Street in Lahaina and visited its art galleries for the first time. Seeing original paintings up close and meeting working artists awakened something in me. That was the moment I knew I wanted to become a professional artist — someone who could create beauty, tell stories, and bring soulful energy into the spaces people live in.

I painted Sanctuary in 2016 as a tribute to the little town that helped shape my dream. Lahaina represented inspiration, possibility, and the life I hoped to build through art. After the devastating wildfire of 2023, this painting now holds an even deeper tenderness in my heart. It stands as both an homage and a prayer — for remembrance, for healing, and for the enduring spirit of Lahaina.

•   ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR: 22" X 30" on Archival Arches Watercolor art board.

•   MATTING:  Double Matting 3" 

•   FRAME: 41" Wide X 31" High x 1” Deep - Professionally famed

•   MEDIUM: Professional Grade Watercolors and watercolor paper with Daniel Smith brand genuine semi-precious gemstones shimmering watercolor paints used in the blue of the ocean water. The semi-precious ground stones make unbelievably beautiful color and depth.

•   SIGNATURE~ Front: Signed

•   Back: Mini Bio Sheet with Painting Details

•   COA~ Comes with signed and dated Certificate of Authenticity

* Logo watermark on full image is not on orignal painting.

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✨© Copyright Watermark does not appear on original painting.




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* All art and images are copyrighted © Christie Marie Elder Copyright does not transfer with the purchase of the art. All rights reserved by artist.