The Art of Conservation

By Jim Deaton

JDeaton TheMagnificant

-How did you get started in the art world? When I was a toddler my mother was an emerging artist, so at a very young age I was exposed to various aspects of the art world and its culture. Once I felt a brush in my hand, painting became my passion. From then on, it captivated my mind and made me lose sense of time. It gave me an escape from daily life, and allowed my mind to go anywhere I wanted it to go. I remember when I was a kid, maybe ten or eleven, watching “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau” and seeing the ocean so full of life. It was the most breathtaking sight I had ever seen. I knew right then my passion had found a purpose.

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-What inspires you to create? Marine life has been my biggest inspiration.  The ocean holds an abundance of beauty and life and I want to express my interpretation on canvas.  Its majestic qualities fuel my inspiration and give my creativity life.

JDeaton OceanKing

-Share some details about your creative process. I see something that nature presents and it moves me.  I take a mental snapshot and feel my way through the subject matter with sketches.  At this point I’m not concerned with composition or the final illustration, I simply want to be in touch with my muse. When my vision is clear, the painting process begins. I allow my hand and brush to guide me as I bring the beauty of my inspiration back to life.  I utilize different mediums to achieve my style and interpretation of each painting.

-What do you hope to achieve through your artwork? To touch the lives of those who are looking for inspiration or their own awakening.  To share nature’s beauty and wonder with those who may never feel the ocean upon their feet. To express the allure of an undersea reef that is home to thousands of species.  I think Marc Chagall said it best, “The dignity of the artist lies in his duty of keeping awake the sense of wonder in the world”.

JDeaton polarbear

-How does your artwork tie into conservation? Some of my favorite ocean subjects are protected species or those that are endangered.  Artwork is my way of bringing education and awareness to the world. I have created “Find Your Reef Conservation Society” to assist in conservation of the ocean, reefs and marine life.  A portion of all proceeds go to my conservation fund and I donate artwork to raise funds in support of other conservation efforts.  I feel this is my small way of helping save the earth’s most precious ecosystem.

http://www.jamesdeatonstudio.com/

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Ocean Geographic Explorer (OGX) is a diving adventure resource with a special focus on marine photography and ocean conservation. Our content is divided up into six primary categories: Travel, Sea Science,  Equipment, Photography &Video, Conservation, and Lifestyle. We endeavor be a portal for people with all levels of interest in the marine environment  to learn about and become part of a community of like-minded ocean lovers who enjoy sharing their knowledge of and experiences in our fascinating ocean world.

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