Artist voice

Connection story
“This is crayfish, a reef hunter and one of our sea foods. We take it the right way — when the season is right, when the tides are right — so it stays strong in the reef. In this painting, I’ve shown the spirit of crayfish, not just the animal. The long antennae stretch out like feelers for knowledge, the body filled with patterns from the reef floor, the shell strong like our culture. The lines are like water currents flowing over the coral, carrying stories. When our young ones learn to see the crayfish in the water and in the story, they learn patience, skill, and respect.”

Elements to notice

• Central crayfish form — highly stylised, symmetrical composition
• Long antennae — reaching up and outward, framing the work
• Segmented body — filled with intricate line and dot patterns in ochre, red, yellow, white
• Surrounding field — layered short strokes in blue, white, red suggest water movement and light shimmer
• Eyes and head — simple but forward-facing, emphasising alertness
• Pattern repetition — echo of reef textures, currents, and coral growth forms

Technique notes
Fine brushwork in layered short-stroke backgrounds; bold, graphic outlining in white; intricate interior segment patterns; palette anchored in ochre, red, yellow, white against dark blue/black ground.

Teaching message
Respect the reef and take only what is right — the strength of the crayfish is the strength of our culture.

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