Underwater
Seascape, Hand painted Murals
*By
Artist Ray Gatica
Wall, and Large Canvas Murals
Back in 2002, Artist Ray Gatica, from Humble TX., was commissioned to create an underwater seascape mural by a client in Katy TX.
The size was specific, because it had to fit in a 5 Ft. (H) X 15 Ft. (W) wall niche behind the bed on the bed room. The subject was exciting for the artist becuse of the colors and subject matter it was also challenging creating the underwater movement. in the painting, Gatica used reference material (photos, post cards, etc.) and imagined himself underwater to be able to create and simulate the underwater motion and movement.
Gatica titled them 'Underwater Frolic I,
II, III,, because of the whimsical colors and how the fish
seemed to be having fun in the painting. The piece was exciting and
included a lot of detail and motion, assorted colorful
coral, plant life and included assorted size fish, that
seemed 
to enjoy it all as they played and
"frolicked" around as they go through their underwater
existence.
The top painting at the left was the first one. It was the first painting of this type, for the artist. The client was so pleased she commissioned the artist to create three more large canvas murals.
Gatica wound up creating three more
canvas murals for the client. He also painted, in the same vane as
the canvas pieces, a 6 Ft. tall wooden sculptor depicting dolphins
jumping out of he water that had a base of coral and
underwater rocks.
Most of the time Gatica starts the large paintings with traditional brushes and finally, applies overlays of washes and color with the airbrush to soften shadows, highlights and edges, and to add special effects, typical of the airbrush.