Seal
Deborah Trent, 2026 · Watercolor on paper
A cheerful, open-mouthed portrait of a seal lifting its face out of the bare white of the paper. The head and shoulder are built in soft washes of slate blue and pewter grey, warmed at the cheeks by faint blushes of apricot. A heart-shaped nose in deep near-black sits at the center of the face, with dotted whisker pits and long, fine whiskers fanning out to either side, and the mouth opens wide on a soft pink. Large dark eyes, each with a bright highlight, look straight out with unguarded directness, while one rounded flipper rises at the lower right. Simple, unfussed, and full of comic delight.
Inspiration
I created a series of whimsical, adorable animals—purely for fun.
Artistic Process
I began with a quick sketch to place the main features, then let the watercolor fill in and shape the rest.
- Brushes: 0, 2, 6, 8 Round
- Paints: Ultramarine Blue, Titanium White, Burnt Sienna, Lunar Black, Cadmium Red
Reflections
I painted this Seal around Valentine's Day, thus the intentional heart-shaped nose!