When I was about 2 years old, my family went to Japan to visit relatives. My mother took me for a swim in the ocean. Something happened to my cheek while we were in the water; probably a jellyfish sting. My skin broke open and oozed and bled and I screamed in pain for the rest of the trip. I don’t remember this at all. But I still have a scar on my face, barely visible now.

This ties in to all the marine life paintings: I’m scared of water despite living all my life in the middle of the Alberta prairies with barely a lake in sight.

Painting marine life lets me enjoy something I’m fascinated by, but terrified of. It lets me work through this weird fear at a safe distance.

Fading Octopus

Mixed media on canvas, 16 x 22”. © Elisa Shigehiro, 2019. Get the design printed on stuff at Redbubble. Original painting available for purchase: contact me at elisashigehiro@gmail.com.

Great White

Mixed media on canvas, 16 x 20”. © Elisa Shigehiro, 2019. Get the design printed on stuff at Redbubble. Original painting available for purchase: contact me at elisashigehiro@gmail.com.

Manta Ray

Mixed media on canvas, 16 x 20”. © Elisa Shigehiro, 2019. Get the design printed on stuff at Redbubble. Original painting available for purchase: contact me at elisashigehiro@gmail.com.

Neon Goldfish Hidari

Mixed media on canvas, 16 x 20”. © Elisa Shigehiro, 2019. Get the design printed on stuff at Redbubble. Original painting available for purchase: contact me at elisashigehiro@gmail.com.

Neon Goldfish Migi

Mixed media on canvas, 16 x 20”. © Elisa Shigehiro, 2019. Get the design printed on stuff at Redbubble. Original painting available for purchase: contact me at elisashigehiro@gmail.com.

Aubergine Koi

Mixed media on canvas, 16 x 20”. © Elisa Shigehiro, 2017. Get the design printed on stuff at Redbubble. Original painting is SOLD.

Bougainvillea Koi

Mixed media on canvas, 16 x 20”. © Elisa Shigehiro, 2018. Get the design printed on stuff at Redbubble. Original painting is SOLD.

Colourful Octopus

Mixed media on canvas, 16 x 20”. © Elisa Shigehiro, 2018. Get the design printed on stuff at Redbubble. Original painting available for purchase: contact me at elisashigehiro@gmail.com.

Dappled Goldfish

Mixed media on canvas, 18 x 24”. © Elisa Shigehiro, 2017. Get the design printed on stuff at Redbubble. Original painting available for purchase: contact me at elisashigehiro@gmail.com.

Desert Frog

Mixed media on board, 11 x 13”. © Elisa Shigehiro, 2017. Get the design printed on stuff at Redbubble. Original painting is SOLD

Green and Copper Octopus

Mixed media on canvas, 16 x 20”. © Elisa Shigehiro, 2018. Get the design printed on stuff at Redbubble. Original painting is SOLD

Hammerhead

Mixed media on canvas, 18 x 24”. © Elisa Shigehiro, 2017. Get the design printed on stuff at Redbubble. Original painting is SOLD.

Pastel Octopus

Mixed media on canvas, 16 x 20”. © Elisa Shigehiro, 2017. Get the design printed on stuff at Redbubble. Original painting available for purchase: contact me at elisashigehiro@gmail.com.