This work explores the fragile elegance of Thysanoteuthis rhombus—a rare, monogamous deep-sea squid—highlighting the fleeting brilliance and ecological complexity of life in the open ocean.

I’ve long been drawn to the extraordinary life forms of the deep sea—organisms adapted to darkness, pressure, and impermanence.

This painting features Thysanoteuthis rhombus, or diamond squid, a large pelagic species known for its ephemeral life span and unique mating behavior. It is the only cephalopod species known to form monogamous pair bonds, mating head-to-head in an elegant display of synchronicity.

Here, the squid pursues a juvenile Wunderpus photogenicus, reflecting its role in the ocean’s intricate food web. Sadly, T. rhombus is increasingly targeted by fisheries, particularly in Japan.

Inspired by the underwater photography of Wayne Jones in the Philippines, this work pays tribute to the fleeting beauty and ecological vulnerability of life in the deep.

The painting was inspired by the photography of award-winning wildlife photographer Wayne Jones in the Philippines.