Return to Alaskan Waters Robert Lyn Nelson

The artwork presents a striking diptych, dividing the composition into distinct yet interconnected realms: a mountainous landscape above and a submerged aquatic environment below. The upper portion depicts a vast expanse of water reflecting a range of snow-capped peaks under a muted sky. Several large cetaceans breach the surface, their forms rendered with considerable detail, suggesting an active and dynamic interaction with the environment. Ice floes drift serenely in the foreground, contributing to a sense of remote wilderness and icy grandeur.
Below the waterline, the scene transforms dramatically. The artist has created a luminous underwater world, bathed in cool blue light that filters down from above. Here we see three more cetaceans engaged in an energetic display – leaping and twisting through the water with evident power and grace. Bubbles rise around them, adding to the illusion of depth and movement. The lower portion is framed by a dark band at the bottom, which serves to emphasize the contrast between the bright underwater scene and the implied darkness beyond.
The color palette throughout the piece is dominated by cool blues and whites, reinforcing the feeling of frigid waters and icy landscapes. This monochromatic scheme contributes to a sense of tranquility and vastness, while also evoking a certain melancholy or solitude. The artist’s choice to depict both above-water and underwater environments simultaneously allows for a comparison between two seemingly disparate worlds, highlighting their interconnectedness.
Subtly, the composition suggests themes of migration and return. The cetaceans presence in both realms implies a cyclical journey, a homecoming to familiar waters. The scale of the mountains and the expanse of the ocean convey a sense of the insignificance of individual beings within the larger natural order. There is an underlying reverence for the power and beauty of nature, particularly its aquatic ecosystems, which seems intended to inspire contemplation about humanitys place within it.