Haand-Painted: Minoan Collection

I became fascinated with Minoan art through a roundabout, cringe way- they are often cited as the real-life civilization that Atlantis was based on, and I found them in a pseudo-history book as a tween that claimed they were somewhere between a lost civilization of space travelers and or/ the real, magical, Atlanteans lost forever due to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. If you ever get a chance, real Minoan art does not actually discourage this- nubile, huge-eyed youths frolic with dolphins, while huge-eyed octopi look on in delight. It’s great. They fill up the space of their pottery and walls with the abundance of sea life around their Mediterranean island. I love painting cephalopods and this is an excuse to indulge that, hopefully in the fun, playful way intended in the originals I am referencing from 3,400 years ago.
As my subject for this series, I chose an Octopus, painted in rich, red clay color. I love the way it fills the space of the pot that its on, turning it into a cave mouth or tidal pool glanced in the clear water.