Mesmerize.

Acrylic Painting “Mesmerize” © by Sanne Ham

In 2017, I was 20 years old, and I traveled alone for the first time to San Remo, Italy. I volunteered for a non-profit organization called Tethys Research Institute, which supports marine conservation through science and public awareness with a focus on whales and dolphins.

In Greek mythology, Tethys is a Titan goddess, daughter of Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth), and she is the mother of the river gods and Oceanids. Her name is derived from the Greek word têthê, meaning "nurse" or "grandmother" her fresh waters nourish the earth.

I spent a week on a sailing boat in the Mediterranean sea with the crew and other volunteers. I was mesmerized by the peaceful presence of these incredible creatures. I fell in love with photographing the elegant dive of the sperm whale, a sweet goodbye revealing their beautiful tail.

The photographs of the whale tails became my inspiration helping me navigate the painting process. I began with the background and painted the tail afterward with acrylic. In between the layers of paint, I splashed water on the paper to add an oceanic feeling.

On my journeys exploring my inner and outer world, I discovered how emotional healing and creative expression go hand in hand. A creative block often represents a feeling of stuckness. When we bring our awareness into the stuckness, we can receive new inspiration helping us to reclaim our freedom and authentic expression.

If you'd like to receive more inspiration and connect deeper to your emotions and creativity, I speak about this in more detail on my mailing list - you can go here to sign up.