Dreamy Watercolor Illustrations Capture the Ethereal Spirit of the Natural World

A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

Germany-based illustrator Canan Esen creates ethereal watercolor paintings of animals, marine life, and planets. With over 9,000 Instagram followers, her admirable work is completed in a range of watercolor hues that blend and bleed naturally to mirror the organic textures of their subjects. Occasionally, the artist adds spots of gold leaf, which adds to the work’s captivating charm.

Passionate about the well-being of our oceans, most of Esen’s delicate dreamscapes depict various breeds of whales, dolphins, sharks, and even mermaids. Her growing portfolio of art emphasizes their movements; with watery brushstrokes and paint drips, the sea creatures appear to glide and splash through their watercolor worlds. In some cases, Esen merges the ocean with earthy terrain, depicting whales and dolphins with forest-like plant life growing on their backs. This surreal visual expresses the interrelated nature of land and sea.

If you’re a fan of Esen’s paintings, you can purchase originals by messaging her on Instagram. You can also buy shoes printed with her The Little Humpback illustration, made as part of Bucketfeet‘s collaboration with The Lonely Whale Foundation. Best of all: 10% of profits will go towards supporting causes that work to improve ocean and marine life.

Illustrator Canan Esen creates ethereal watercolor paintings of animals, marine life, and planets.

A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

Passionate about the well-being of our oceans, most of Esen’s delicate dreamscapes depict whales in motion, appearing to glide through their watercolor worlds.

A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

 

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A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

A post shared by Canan Esen (@nanacnese) on

Canan Esen: Instagram

All images via Canan Esen.

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Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. Originally from Northern Ireland, she is an artist now based in Berlin. After graduating with a BA in Fashion and Textile Design in 2013, Emma decided to combine her love of art with her passion for writing. Emma has contributed to various art and culture publications, with an aim to promote and share the work of inspiring modern creatives. While she writes every day, she’s also devoted to her own creative outlet—Emma hand-draws illustrations and is currently learning 2D animation.
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