Theodore Heublein Artwork

This painting collection as it is today started in 2016 aboard Phil Sammet’s Underwater Company’s zodiac inside the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve boundaries – on and below the water. Phil has been a reliable captain and entertaining dive leader on multiple excursions including here in the Monterey area, Alaska, and Truk Lagoon.

The initial idea was to try and capture certain areas repeatedly over four seasons and capture them on canvas, paper, and camera from his boat. While this was accomplished, the scope of the project expanded to cover various additional coves and scenes painted primarily ‘en plein air’ (above) and by ‘en sous marine’ (below).

The paintings Above are in Watercolors, Acrylics, and Oils. Each medium has a lot to offer in being able to convey the weather, colors, textures, and feelings of the moment being painted.

The paintings Below are Oils on stretched canvas. This has proven to be the most durable and reliable surface to work with and the oil paints and sticks, while able to be applied to the canvas surface, also have the benefit of being bio-degradable so no harm comes to the environment I’m working in. This was very important and without which I couldn’t accomplish the project in the reserve.

These Sous Marine paintings started after being inspired by Hussain Ihfal, a talented artist from the Maldives. I thought to myself, ‘If he can accomplish this in calm, tropical waters, then my neighborhood Kelp Forests could also be done.’  The challenges have included cold water, surges, limited visibility, and working in a medium that would leave no trace. The paintings worked but has a decidedly more abstract feel as the tools are limited to a pencil, palette knife and fingers. I am still exploring a wider set of tools to incorporate. The logistic challenges still remain of weighting the canvas and stability working in what turns out to be some marginal conditions. Happily, I have had several buddy divers assist in these paintings, as well as Phil.

There are multiple challenges to working in and on the water. Foremost of these are the winds and waves. It was inevitable that staying in one spot for several hours resulted in conditions that included but weren’t limited to, calm, wind, waves, tidal pulses, sun, fog, rain. And on a couple of occasions, birds landing on wet canvases, leaving paint-webbed footprints behind.

I have witnessed some amazing wildlife while visiting Point Lobos over the years. And no visit is the same as any other. I have seen Great White Sharks, Whales, Dolphins, Sea Lions, Seals, all kinds of fish, birds, land mammals, reptiles, and thousands of invertebrates.

I am hoping that seeing these seasonal views from above and below the waterline will inspire you to see the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in a new way. It’s a magnificent jewel, and we must care for it so that our future visitors may enjoy it as well.

As a member of ‘Paint the Parks’, I have agreed to donate 10% of any sales of these pieces to the Point Lobos Foundation to help continue their work in supporting the park and the community.

All Paintings Now Available through The Artist

To purchase paintings in this collection contact the artist via email at: theodoreheubleinart@comcast.net

 Follow the Artist on Instagram: @theodoreheubleinart