{"product_id":"sanctuary-original-humpback-whale-watercolor","title":"Sanctuary — Original Humpback Whale Watercolor","description":"\u003ch2 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eSanctuary\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA humpback whale lifts its fluke above the waters off Lahaina, framed by Maui’s mountains beyond and the shifting reflections of sky and sea.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI painted \u003cem\u003eSanctuary\u003c\/em\u003e in 2016, years before I would eventually make Hawaiʻi my home. At the time, Maui lived strongly in my imagination. I dreamed from a young age of someday moving to the islands and opening an art gallery on Front Street in Lahaina—then one of Hawaiʻi’s most celebrated art destinations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis painting was created from that dream.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have always felt a deep fascination with the creatures of the ocean and with the enormous world that exists beneath its surface. There is something humbling about sharing this planet with animals whose lives unfold largely beyond our view. Through my art, I find myself continually reaching toward that connection—wanting to know the ocean more deeply, to feel a relationship with the life within it, and to become a better steward of the natural world wherever I can.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYears after \u003cem\u003eSanctuary\u003c\/em\u003e was painted, the devastating Lahaina fire changed the meaning of this piece for me in a way I could never have anticipated. What began as a painting inspired by a place I dreamed of someday becoming part of now also holds a memory of Lahaina as I knew and imagined it then.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor me, \u003cem\u003eSanctuary\u003c\/em\u003e remains a painting about reverence, hope, belonging, and the pull toward Hawaiʻi that began long before I knew where that dream would eventually lead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTraditional Watercolor — With an Unexpected Luminosity\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSanctuary\u003c\/em\u003e is grounded in the traditions of transparent watercolor painting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNo white paint was used anywhere in the painting.\u003c\/strong\u003e The luminous whites seen in the whale, cascading water, reflections, and spray come from the watercolor paper itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany of these areas were carefully preserved throughout the painting process, including passages protected while transparent layers of color were built around them. Selected foreground sparkles were traditionally revealed back through carving the painted surface, allowing flashes of the white paper to become part of the movement and energy of the water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis demanding approach requires the brightest areas of the composition to be considered from the beginning rather than painted back in afterward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMineral and semi-precious gemstone pigments are also layered throughout areas of the water and reflected light. As illumination changes, these pigments catch subtle shifts of color and shimmer, adding an unusual dimensional quality to the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe effect is difficult to fully capture in photography. In person, the luminosity enhances the illusion of depth—the whale appears to move forward from the surface while the reflective ocean stretches back toward the distant mountains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIt is one of those rare pieces whose depth, luminosity, and shifting surface can only be fully experienced in the original — the kind of unique magic no reproduction can completely capture.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eArtwork Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal Watercolor · One of One\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTitle:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eSanctuary\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Christie Marie Elder\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCreated:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2016\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedium:\u003c\/strong\u003e Watercolor with mineral and semi-precious gemstone pigments\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSubject:\u003c\/strong\u003e Humpback whale off Lahaina, Maui, Hawaiʻi\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtwork Dimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 22\" H × 30\" W\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFramed Dimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e approximately 31\" H × 41\" W × 1\" D\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFraming\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProfessionally presented in a warm-toned wood frame with deep navy and crisp white matting, selected to complement the rich blues of the ocean and the dark tones of the humpback whale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGlazed and ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eArtist Signature \u0026amp; Documentation\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSignature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Signed by Christie Marie Elder.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach original artwork includes a \u003cstrong\u003eCertificate of Authenticity (COA)\u003c\/strong\u003e along with an artist biography for provenance and collector records.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCopyright\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e© Christie Marie Elder. All rights reserved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePurchase of the original artwork transfers ownership of the physical artwork only. Copyright and reproduction rights remain with the artist and do not transfer with the sale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eShipping \u0026amp; Delivery\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKauaʻi:\u003c\/strong\u003e Complimentary gallery pickup or local delivery is available for original artwork purchases.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOff-Island \u0026amp; International Collectors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Because each original artwork requires specialized packing and fully insured transport, shipping is quoted individually based on the artwork and destination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBefore purchasing, please click the “Request a Shipping Quote” button on this page and complete the short form with your delivery address.\u003c\/strong\u003e We’ll arrange the appropriate professional packing and insured transport, then contact you with the complete shipping quote.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce you approve the quote, we’ll send you a secure invoice through our online gallery for the artwork and shipping.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kauai Christie's Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48318214209723,"sku":null,"price":30000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1531\/1583\/files\/Sanctuary2016.jpg?v=1788393153","url":"https:\/\/www.kauaichristiesart.com\/products\/sanctuary-original-humpback-whale-watercolor","provider":"Kauai Christie's Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}