The Visual Narrative

In this piece, colour is not just decoration; it is sound.

When the background shifted to this luminous yellow, the entire painting began to sing. Super-complicated, intricate layers build up a history across the surface, a little like sediment gathering quietly on the ocean floor.

You might notice the distinctive textural qualities – complex, organic patterns. The exact method involves a surprising household material; the full process is recorded in my archive for subscribed Patreon‘s.

On the 27th of September, in the final stages of the work, I added the mouth. That single decision completed the image, turning a marine form into a character with something to say.

A Character for the Big Screen?

There is a clear personality here. This is not a formal study of wildlife.. <laughs>; it feels like the first frame of a story.

Golden Whale has that rare, charismatic quality – a presence that seems ready for close-ups and long shots alike. One can imagine him swimming through a feature-length family animation, guiding an adventure with heart, humour and depth. He looks like a star patiently waiting just offstage for wondrous storytellers to call “Action”.

The Unfathomable Connection, Conservation:

Although the palette is bright and jubilant, the inspiration comes from a true oceanic story about conservation and plastic pollution.

We often talk about “giving a voice” to the voiceless. Through layered paint and the glow of gold, this whale found his voice. The image feels joyful, yet it gently asks us to listen to what the sea is trying to say – about care, responsibility and the futures we are shaping.

Process & Drafts

This was one of the most demanding paintings I have created. It moved through multiple drafts and a major shift in colour thinking before arriving at this final golden state. Earlier versions explored different backgrounds, including challenging metallic tones, before the yellow finally unlocked the character’s full presence.

For Patreon patrons and serious collectors who wish to see the unseen layers – the early silver drafts, the secret texturing technique and the long search to find the soul of the piece – I have shared exclusive step-by-step drafts on Patreon.

[Link to Patreon: “Behind the Layers of Golden Whale”]

What song do you think Golden Whale is singing?