Meadows of The Sea

Every breath you take carries a speck of the ocean’s secret gardens - vast meadows of seagrass that absorb carbon, release oxygen, and quietly keep the world in balance. That, in essence, is the importance of seagrass: a quiet existent, unobtrusive, yet indispensable. 

This year, I received two ocean-themed scripts. At first, I hesitated, worried the projects might feel repetitive. But the moment I read the scripts, all my doubt dissolved. Each story revealed a completely different underwater world. And although both focus on the quiet lives of often overlooked sea creatures, they complement one another through their diversity and the unique angles of knowledge they bring. 

For me, the contrast appears immediately in the color palettes forming in my mind; The Ocean’s Heart unfolding in dark, deep blue accented with glowing pastels, while Meadows of The Sea (written by Michelle Schaub, published by Cherry Lake Publishing Group) lives in bright turquoise and touches of cobalt for the luminous backdrop of shallow water, where vibrant green seagrass thrives.

My fieldwork photo reference.

I consider myself lucky when it comes to researching materials for this book: years of diving had already given me a rich collection of underwater reference photos. Underwater photography is one of my passion, and it has always shaped the way I choose colors. Seagrass, for example, isn’t just green, it shifts through olive, jade, sage, and even browns and deep burnt-orange tones. And corals aren’t simply light brown either, some glow in soft pinks, bright oranges, and muted purples. Together, they form a magical undersea palette that guided every choice in this book. 

Me studying the corals up close in their vibrant habitat

Some of the pictures that inspired the vibes, the tones and color for "Meadows of the Sea"

Not all the sea creatures in this book I had the chance to encounter in real life, and for those I’m deeply grateful to Michelle Schaub for her reference guidance and scientifically accurate information. But for me, sea turtles have become one of my favourite creatures to bring to the page. I’ve met many turtles in the wild and collected countless photos and videos of them over the years. Observing how they swim, how they glide and maneuver through the water, and how expressive their eyes can be has been not only inspiring but also an absolute joy. Bringing them to life in illustration felt like reconnecting with old friends.

A glimpse of my fieldwork: closely examining a turtle for reference.

Some of my favorite turtle photographs…

…that eventually blossomed into these illustration.

A cowtail stingray I observed on one of my dives, whose graceful movement helped inspire the yellow stingray illustrated in this page.

The mood and atmosphere captured in these two photos influenced the creation of the artwork below.

Work in progress clip of a fireworm gripping on strand of sea grass as the storm churns around. Fireworms are notorious among divers as a firm “do not touch”, but here it looks almost endearing, a tiny, hopeless creature hanging on for dear life.

Meadows of the Sea is not only a mini magical forest where countless creatures thrive and survive, it is also a place resiliently fighting its own quiet battle, against pollution, careless human actions that harm, and the bottles, wrappers, torn bits of plastic that drift in like the unwanted messages we never meant to send. The message within Meadows of the Sea is soft, but clear: cleaning up our human-made debris is a small act, but a necessary one. A slow, steady gesture of care that helps create even the slightest buffer against the ocean’s growing crisis.

A page from "Meadows of the Sea"

Joining my dive buddies to clear trash from the ocean that shaped my childhood.

Woking on these ocean-themed picture book projects, on the importance of understanding and restoring the very source of our planet’s life, is, for me, far more than work. It’s a way of giving voice to what I believe in and offering my own small contribution, however tiny it may be. I truly hope these books reach many children, young adults, and even a wider and more diverse audience, and that though them, a piece of my quiet voice joins a shared responsibility of caring for the ocean as part of our everyday lives.

Truly grateful to my editor, Jennifer Bacheller, for her encouragement and for trusting me with this thoughtful and inspiring project. For more of Michelle's work, please visit here.