A FISH NAMED WANDA by Nina Nolte

The vertical painting A FISH NAMED WANDA by the renowned artist Nina Nolte captures the essence of an underwater paradise through a vivid palette of pop-art colors. The scene is set in an underwater landscape, teeming with life and movement. The composition of the painting leads the viewer’s eye from the foreground, where a large and striking fish, the artist named, Wanda takes center stage, to the background, where a cave is nestled among a variety of colorful corals. These corals create a mesmerizing backdrop, enhancing the feeling of being submerged in a lively, aquatic world.

Numerous fish, each rendered with meticulous detail and vibrant hues, swim gracefully in front of the cave. The cave itself, shrouded in mystery and allure, adds depth to the scene, inviting the viewer to imagine what lies within its shadowy recesses. Far above the aquatic life, the ocean’s surface is depicted in a sunny yellow, suggesting the warmth and brilliance of a sunlit day filtering through the water. This sunny yellow surface contrasts beautifully with the cool, deep blues and greens of the underwater environment.

Beneath this sunlit layer, a group of larger fish swims, their presence adding a sense of scale and grandeur to the painting. The perspective chosen by Nolte – looking upwards from below – creates a remarkable spatial impression, making the viewer feel as if they are truly immersed in this underwater world. This upward gaze captures the sense of awe and wonder that the ocean often inspires, highlighting the majestic beauty and tranquility of the sea.

The ocean loving Nina Nolte created this stunning piece in memory of a vacation at the Red Sea some decades ago. During her trip, she was profoundly impressed by the vibrant underwater world and the crystal-clear water that allowed her to witness the marine life in all its glory. The painting is not just a depiction of the sea but a tribute to the unforgettable experiences and emotions Nolte felt during her time at the Red Sea. Through her art, she seeks to share the beauty and magic of the underwater world with others, inviting them to experience the same sense of wonder and appreciation she felt.

This original painting measures 146 x 97 cm (57.5 x 38”) and is executed in acrylic paint on canvas. The entire canvas of the original painting was meticulously covered – millimeter by millimeter – by the artist using the paint that came directly from the tip of a small plastic bottle. This painstaking process required a great deal of effort, but it resulted in a stunning outcome: the canvas appears almost as if it were enameled. The bottle contained fluid acrylic paint, which had been thinned to the perfect consistency for this technique. The artist describes this method as akin to coloring in a surface with a ballpoint pen. The painting was created in her studio located San Pedro Alcántara, Spain.