Jewels of the Sea

A gorgeous collection of small stunning abstracts.

Coral Series – https://aartibartake.com/shopdetail/?product=349&category=Floral

‘Jewels of the Sea’ represents the amazing world of Coral Reefs. It is a collection of 5 small but significant abstracts which are vibrant and unique. Handmade with love these are inspired by the breathtaking beauty of the diverse, rainbow colored habitats of the ocean.

Though coral may look like a colorful plant growing from roots in the seafloor, it is actually an animal. Corals are known as colonial organisms, because many individual creatures live and grow while connected to each other. They are also dependent on one another for survival.

Coral 1 – https://aartibartake.com/shopdetail/?product=349&category=Floral

Aptly been called as the Rain Forests of the Sea, they support a quarter of the world’s marine life by providing food, shelter, breeding grounds, they also act as barriers that protect shorelines from erosion, storms, and tsunamis.
Coral reefs are home to a wide array of aquatic organisms, acting as productive nurseries to many fish species, giving the small fish a home and a chance to grow. Who can forget the adorable clown fish ‘Nemo’ and the security of his colorful Reef home!

Coral Series – https://aartibartake.com/shopdetail/?product=352&category=Floral

They have a unique ability to inspire us to explore and visit the ocean from places afar just to see. They have complex compounds which are being used for medicine. More than half a billion people depend on reefs for food, income, and protection. Fishing, diving, and snorkeling on and near reefs add hundreds of millions of dollars to local businesses.

The net economic value of the world’s coral reefs is estimated to be billions of U.S. dollars per year. These ecosystems are culturally important to indigenous people around the world. These ecosystems would be very difficult and expensive to recreate!

6 inch x 6 inch x 1.5 inch, painted on cradled wood

The greatest threats to reefs are rising water temperatures and ocean acidification linked to rising carbon dioxide levels and water pollution. High water temperatures cause corals to lose the microscopic algae that produce the food corals need—a condition known as Coral Bleaching. Overfishing and overharvesting of corals also disrupt reef ecosystems.

Without a mix of long-term cuts in emissions and short-term innovation, coral reefs as we know them will simply cease to exist, says Anne Cohen, a coral expert at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts.

Do not buy Products or Souvenirs that have Coral in them.

Corals have long been popular as souvenirs, for home decor, and in jewelry, but many consumers are unaware that these beautiful structures are made by living creatures. Fewer still realize that corals are dying off at alarming rates.

Coral Reef inspired work of arts

These paintings are a small effort on my part to raise awareness for the conservation of these spectacular ecosystems of the ocean. We can all do our part to save these amazing habitats of the ocean.

To counter rising temperatures due to global warming – turn off electrical appliances whenever possible to reduce your energy consumption. Dispose your litter responsibly so that it does not end up in the ocean. Do not purchase products or souvenirs that contain coral. Support businesses in tourism that are eco-friendly and help in marine conservation.