I really enjoyed doing this commission piece for a family that has a home in the San Juan Islands. I've been spending time on San Juan Island for the last 10 years teaching people about the local resident killer whale population and volunteering as an assistant for research projects. I have a special affection for the particular group of killer whales that are refered to as family groups of J, K, and L pods. They are a federally endangered species and I relish any opportunity to educate people about them, including through my artwork.
This whimsical piece uses the outline of a killer whale to illustrate many of the different animals that live in their environment, or ecosystem. I also included a chart naming the different animals in the piece since I can never fully let go of my teacher persona!
