'Into The Blue' Original Paintings

‘Into the Blue’ is my latest series of ocean themed paintings inspired by Chinese Blue & White Ceramics and its cultural influence all across South East Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas.

Japan has their Arita ware, the Dutch have Delftware, English have their Willow ware, and blue & white porcelain is an important part of Islamic ceramics and Persian culture.

In the 13th century, the explorer Marco Polo introduced Chinese porcelain to the Western world for the first time. By the 17th century, with the improvement of maritime technology and the opening of sea lanes, Chinese porcelain was regularly shipped to foreign countries - leading it to become a highly sought after and prized item in Europe.

With this huge expansion of sea-trade between Europe and Asia, there were inevitably numerous shipwrecks. I’ve often wondered what would happen if, by some mysterious alchemy, the treasures of the sea merged with the treasures from above….