Bonnielynn Brankey Medium Watercolor/oil/silk painting Email dvrbon@wirr.com Website www.bonnielynnsart.com Artist's Statement Painting colorful underwater subjects is an expression of my love for the oceans. After getting scuba certified in 1991, I found that the world wears a different face below the surface of the sea. I find that transferring these subjects I see when I am underwater into brightly colored oil or watercolor paintings releases these emotions. I like to think of my marine paintings as "celebrating life in the sea." Finding inspiration and then creating works of art is a problem often faced by artists. My inspiration comes from the underwater photographs I take of the sea life, fishes and corals on my scuba diving trips. When people see my art creations, I would like for them to feel happy and invigorated by the bright colors I use and to feel, just for a moment, that they have entered this beautiful underwater world and become a part of my adventures. A delicate balance exists between our lives with that of the oceans. Educating and increasing public awareness through my art is my mission to get people to think about the health and survival of our oceans for future generations to enjoy.