Under the waves - A dream world full of life. by MariaJVerdam

When I look at this piece, it feels as if I’m underwater again. As if I’m drifting alongside the seaweed, past hidden fish and currents you can only sense if you're still enough. Everything is drawn from my imagination — nothing is literal, yet if you look closely, you’ll recognize all kinds of elements: tiny fish, deep-sea creatures, plants, the ocean floor, bubbles... tucked away like secrets in a dreamlike world.

To me, the ocean is a kind of cosmos beneath the waves. It holds the mystery of our origins — with ecosystems teeming with life in places you'd never expect, like the hot springs on the ocean floor. In many cultures, the sea is seen as a primal element, a source of life. That idea moves me deeply.

The ocean often feels like a refuge. A place where I feel connected to silence, to color, to the slow rhythm of fish simply being. But that world is changing. Pollution is draining its colors, extinguishing species, and erasing entire habitats. That worries me. With this work, I aim to capture a glimpse of that lost beauty — and call out to everyone who, like me, cherishes water, nature, and life.

This piece emerged from intuition. I use ecoline, ink, water, and paper, and let my hand follow wherever my mind lets go. By drawing, I turn inward and find quiet once more. And from my hands, a world unfolds — one that invites you to get lost in it.