Never too old to learn

Starting my artist journey has shown me that I am not too old to learn, but I was not expecting to learn so much more about the reef. I recently discovered that corals are actually animals! I think it was the stony exterior that seemed to negate this possibility, and the almost plant-like shapes and colours of some species that made me think they were more likely plant than animal. Suddenly, I thought of the corals I might have inadvertently stood on whilst diving in the Comoros and Fiji years back, and thinking that these stationary animals are like sitting ducks, at the mercy of big feet, boat bottoms, fishing nets, as well as relentless storms and cyclones. Did you know they were animals?

These animals have hard outer skeletons and survive underwater due to their symbiotic relationship they have with an algae that produces food through photosynthesis. That is why corals grow in relatively shallow water, where light can be used for photosynthesis. When corals die, they bleach, losing the algae and leaving exoskeletons which, when broken off, wash up on the beach. These show intricate patterns and provide insights into how the animal once lived. Their shapes, patterns and textures are incredibly interesting and inspiring, and I cannot help but pick them up and draw my observations into my journal for future inclusion in my artworks! These photos show the corals I found on the beach in Lombok, Indonesia, and of course, I returned them to the sea… but only after drawing them and appreciating each one!

I hope I have provided you with some food for thought today.

Until next time 😊

Michele