Pacific Octopus: Free Falling

When I was a biology student at the University of Victoria I took a course in Scuba Diving. On the first dive the class did in the sea we encountered a huge octopus with a diameter of approximately 12 feet. We followed this amazing creature for about ten minutes, and even in 40 years of diving, I have never seen one as large since. After a spurt of movement the streamline shape would transform into a huge umbrella and drift slowly downwards followed by another burst of smooth energy until it disappeared into the distance. I have painted several works inspired by this memorable experience but this is the first octopus I have positioned in free fall as seen from slightly below. The background kelp forests and density of life forms that fill every nook and cranny of the subtidal sea floor were very time consuming to paint but were a wonderful indulgence… almost as exciting as going on a 10 day dive.

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