Ocean Moments: Creating a Mini Series of Original Ocean Paintings
How do you capture the power and beauty of the sea on a canvas just 5 × 5 inches?
That was the question that started my Ocean Moments journey.
I’ve never created a mini series of paintings before, so Ocean Moments is something completely new for me. The idea began with my love of the sea and a desire to capture those fleeting moments of colour, light and movement that can make you stop and simply watch the waves. I wanted to explore what could happen when I worked on a much smaller scale, creating little original paintings that each capture a different feeling or moment by the ocean. And so, Ocean Moments was born.
Once I had the idea, I knew I wanted to take my time with it rather than simply painting from a single photograph. I have spent hours watching waves over the years and photographing them especially
Devon and Cornwall.
I began sketching ideas in my sketchbook and really looking at the way the water moves, changes colour and catches the light. I became fascinated by the shapes and rhythms within the waves and the different moods they can create — from calm and peaceful to energetic and powerful. I began experimenting with colour and composition, gradually developing a collection of small paintings where each one captured its own little ocean moment. The first 10 paintings became the beginning of the series, each one unique but connected by my love of the sea.
Painting on such a small scale was so different for me. I kept wondering, could I really transfer the power, movement and energy of the sea onto a canvas measuring just 5 × 5 inches? The sea can feel vast and overwhelming, yet here I was trying to capture that feeling in such a tiny space. It became an exciting challenge — finding ways to convey the movement of the waves, the changing colours and the light while keeping each painting loose, expressive and full of energy. I quickly discovered that size doesn’t necessarily limit the feeling a painting can create.
I tried to keep my colour palette simple, choosing just a few colours and allowing the layers of paint to create depth and texture. I used sweeping strokes to capture the movement of some of the waves, letting the paint follow the energy and flow of the water. Rather than trying to paint every detail, I wanted to capture the feeling of the sea — its movement, changing light and sense of freedom. Building up the layers and watching each little painting develop was a really enjoyable part of the process.
Each tiny painting has its own connection to me — a place I’ve visited, a memory of the sea, or a photograph that has stayed with me and sparked something inside. As I painted them, I found myself thinking about what it is that makes the sea so special. For me, it has always had a sense of calm and healing. There is something about watching the waves, listening to the water and being surrounded by those beautiful changing colours that can make you slow down and breathe.
I wanted each Ocean Moment to capture a little of that feeling. My hope is that, even though these paintings are small, they can bring that sense of calm, freedom and connection into your home — a little reminder of the sea whenever you look at them.
My original goal was to create 30 Ocean Moments minis, and I decided to release them in groups of 10. This felt like the right approach because once the first group was finished, I could step back and really reflect on what I had created before starting the next 10. Rather than rushing to complete all 30, I wanted to give myself time to experiment, explore new ideas and see where the series naturally took me. Each group could then develop in its own way while still feeling connected to the Ocean Moments collection.
When the first 10 Ocean Moments were finally finished, it was such a lovely feeling to see them all together. Each one was different, with its own colours, movement and little story, yet they worked beautifully as a collection. After spending so much time developing the idea and painting them, I was excited — and perhaps a little nervous — to share them for the first time.
I decided to give my email subscribers the first opportunity to see and purchase them before they were released on my website. It felt like a lovely way to thank the people who follow my work and support my art. The response to the first collection was incredibly encouraging and made me even more excited to continue creating the next group of Ocean Moments.
As I write this, I’m just about to email my subscribers with their first look at the second release of Ocean Moments. It feels very special to be sharing these next 10 paintings with them first, before they are released on my website.
I’m now working on ideas for the final 10 Ocean Moments, and I’ve decided to take the series in a slightly different direction. While the earlier paintings focused more closely on the waves, I’m introducing a little more coastline into these final pieces, almost as though we are slowly stepping back from the water and taking in a wider view.
I’m really enjoying this change of perspective. It still allows me to capture the movement, colour and energy of the sea, but there is now more of a sense of place and the landscape around it. It feels like a natural progression for the series — as though, after spending so much time looking closely at the waves, we are finally taking a step back to see the bigger picture.
If you’d like to bring a little of the sea into your home, you can explore the Ocean Moments collection in my online gallery. And if you’d like to be among the first to hear about new paintings, collections and upcoming releases, I’d love you to join my newsletter. It’s my way of sharing what’s happening in the studio and giving subscribers an early look at new work.
And as I start thinking about what might come next, I’d love to hear from you. What would you like to see in my next mini series? Is there a particular place, subject, colour palette or theme you’d love me to explore? I’d really love to hear your ideas, so feel free to leave a comment or get in touch and let me know. Your suggestions might just inspire my next collection!
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