
People love Orcas. Or Killer Whales. Whatever you want to call them. I remember back in the 90s, whenever it was that Free Willy came out. All the kids in my class were obsessed with orcas. Orca shirts, Orca parties, ORCA LISA FRANK PENCIL CASES. Shamoo was going strong, wherever he was, and the kids couldn't get enough of it. Being on the West Coast, where we have our fair share of resident Orcas, we learned about them in school and they were everywhere in our local, even national, imagery.
For some reason, I didn't subscribe to the Orca-mania. Maybe because I already had big heavy mammals to obsess over- horses. I was too busy shoveling horse shit to give a shit about whales. What good was obsessing over a creature that I couldn't ride, snuggle, or spoil? Give me horses!!!

That's me & Flossy at our first horse show together. Notice the first place ribbon on her bridle?Awww yeah
Well, I'm not a kid anymore. I can't afford to have horses, and I still have never seen an Orca in real life, despite living on the ocean. I guess I'm just never looking. When I started painting again last year, I knew that I would eventually have to paint an Orca. I was hesitant. It still felt very cliche. But, the tourists here go nuts for the damn things, and they're my target audience, so what the heck. Here's your damn Orca. But I couldn't quite bring myself to paint a plain Orca. It's a space Orca. Deal with it. And it's a messy one at that. A messy, spacey, non-cliche Orca. I hope you enjoy it!
I was just reading a post by @donnadavisart about creating for yourself, and using your art for your own happiness. This is something I have been trying to exercise in my photography and painting in the last few months. This whale was certainly a crossover moment: "I should paint this whale... but I'll paint it like this so that it's fun for me!" Anyway, those are my thoughts on Orca art. This probably won't be the last one I paint so watch this space! Haha.
Until next time! Cheers!
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Peace & Love!

I LOVE this! I remember the Lisa Frank orcas, too :) Yours is way better! Space orcas always win.
Heheh Thank you!!!!
I knew were were soul connected...HORSES! Oh I love horses, rode most of my life (Miss it now want to get back into it.)
I'd spend hours outdoors or in the inside area, laying down and letting my Pickels nuzzle my hair and then lay beside me. A girl and her horse, a bond very few will ever understand!
AH! No way!!! That's so wonderful! You're right... a girl and her horse. It's an incredible bond I get all choked up just thinking about it haha.
I miss it too. I have been thinking of trying to get back into it.. .maybe take some lessons on a nice old schoolmaster somewhere. But every time I reach out to a local stable I get a snobby response with an offer to be put on a waiting list. Ugh. I don't miss that about the horse world. Horse snobs. I'll just have to find a nice little hobby farm looking for someone to exercise their horses. Something like that. A girl can dream.
I prefer the term SEA WOLVES
You WOULD!!
I'm a complete subscriber to the Orca mania. You should hear me sing some Free Willy Michael Jackson.
Hold meeeeeee like the River Jordan... There is a lot of clapping and pointing.
I love this painting. I hinted to @somebuttstuff that it would make a good Christmas present for me, but he didn't pick up what I was laying down.
Maybe I'll buy this one for my house and then the horses for my classroom!
And my eyes will be happppppy.
That horse photo is adorable.
HAHA of course you are!!! Island Girl!!
You just let me know how big you want it printed and we'll make it happen! :D I'm just stoked to have someone like my scribbles!
:D
Heeello @caitycat ! Nice whale! You could manage the black watercolor and giving a feeling to your artwork as always... Thanks for the inspiration again! :-D