dolphin – Heni's Happy Paintings

Dolphin in Dappled Sunlight

Published on August 31, 2014 by henishappypaintings2 Comments

Here in Atlanta the kids have been back in school for three weeks now. My daughter is in her senior year of high school and will soon begin applying to colleges. With the realization of the expenses that lie ahead, my husband and I are trying to figure out the various financial options of her potential college choices. It’s overwhelming; so, early this week when I received a message on my Heni’s Happy Painting’s Etsy Shop from a woman who loved my Mom and Bay Dolphin print but wanted a single dolphin instead, it was the perfect time to step back from that stress and dive into a new painting.

Dolphin in the Dappled Sunlight is the result. I’ve always loved dolphins, they are so playful. When we were in Hawaii swimming with them, the beauty of the light through the clear blue water reflecting on their bodies was striking. I tried to capture that light and yet make it slightly different from the other painting. I am hoping the woman will be pleased. Enjoy these last days of the season!

Two Dolphins in the Moonlight

Published on February 8, 2014January 4, 2016 by henishappypaintings11 Comments

I’ve just completed painting Two Dolphins in the Moonlight for my Heni’s Happy Paintings Etsy shop. Many years ago I did a watercolor painting of four dolphins playing in the full moonlit sea that I gave to my twin sister. She still has it hanging in her home. Now that I’m doing acrylic paintings, I thought it might be fun to try a new moonlit dolphin scene. Last week I was going back and forth with a woman who really liked one of my double fish prints but wanted a custom ordered size, which led me to think about painting a double dolphin scene. I combined those two ideas and and this painting is the result. It was fun to use lots of bright colors contrasting with the darks of the ocean and sky. I want to continue along this whimsical path, tomorrow I plan to start a flying fish painting. We’ll see how that goes.

Dolphin Playing with the Sun

Published on May 22, 2013November 9, 2020 by henishappypaintings3 Comments

Dolphin Playing with the Sun is another painting I did last summer after our Hawaiian trip. One morning while on our trip we got up very early to rent kayaks at Kealakekua Bay where we paddled over to a spot that had the best snorkeling reef on the Big Island. As we were crossing the bay a large pod of spinner dolphins joined us. They are named spinner dolphins because they love to jump up out of the water and spin. It was quite a thrill to see them do this.

With this painting I wanted to show a dolphin playfully jumping out of the water with the big sun in the background. Lately I have become fascinated with the close up images of our sun with the solar flares dancing up. There is so much movement; it is mesmerizing to watch. Scientists think these solar flares effect our planet with magnetic waves in some way. I tried to paint the sun showing lots energy and radiating movement with the dolphin leaping out of the water happily in tune with this energetic connection.

Kealakekua Bay - photo by Mike Kunze — Kealakekua Bay – photo by Mike Kunze

My New Painting – Mom and Baby Dolphin

Published on October 6, 2012March 2, 2013 by henishappypaintings2 Comments

Last April we went to a family wedding in Hawaii. One of the highlights of our vacation was swimming with dolphins. While snorkeling at a coral reef I looked over to see a pair of dolphins swim by. We swam out to where there were more and watched them frolic. They were so playful and the beauty of the light through the clear blue water reflecting on their bodies was striking. Here is a photo that my niece took of them.

spinner dolphins — photo credit: Julia Kunze

I have always loved dolphins. Throughout my childhood every year our family went to St. Simons Island off the coast of Georgia for a week in late August. We used to fish at the Point – a lovely spot where the beach met the marsh. I remember fishing on the rocks there and just waiting to see the dolphins that occasionally passed through. It was very exciting to spot them, they seemed so joyful and free.

Through the years I’ve dreamed about dolphins. As a kid I liked gymnastics but could never get past my fear of doing back handsprings. My dad said it was because I was so tall and had a big head; whatever the case, I never mastered it. I remember a powerful dream that I had in my twenties when I was going through a particularly tough time and feeling a lack of confidence. In the dream a group of dolphins swam around me and helped me do a back handspring. With their help it was so easy to do and I woke up feeling they had given me a gift.

Since getting back from Hawaii, I’ve been inspired to paint them, the painting below is my third one. Dolphins are a great example of just how joyful life can be. It is my hope that these paintings help convey that joy.