Under the Sea Illustration

Under the Sea by Terri Wilhelm

Check out my new habitat illustration – Under the Sea! I wanted to evoke a sense of the rich biodiversity of coral reefs and ocean life in a playful and artistic way.

Under the Sea by Terri Wilhelm

I did this illustration similar to my previous ones, with a watercolor background that is a gentle gradient of blues, depicting the sea from shallow to deeper water as it moves downward. And then I added collage elements.

under the sea by Terri Wilhelm

I love the lone seagull floating at the surface of the water with three more circling in the distance.

Under the Sea by Terri Wilhelm

I added lots of marine life, from a sea turtle swimming peacefully, to a shark lurking in the background, to an octopus among the coral reef and sea plants to a variety of fish in different sizes, shapes and colors scattered through.

Under the Sea by Terri Wilhelm

Under the Sea by Terri Wilhelm

Under the Sea by Terri Wilhelm

The ocean floor has a variety of red, yellow, purple, and pink hues, enhancing the diversity of the ecosystem, with long swaying seaweed framing the corner.

Under the Sea by Terri Wilhelm

Another whimsical, colorful, and educational illustration, for educational purposes or storybook art.

I almost forgot to tell you that I used fluorescent paint in a few spots and this is what the original looks like when shining a blue light on it!

Under the Sea by Terri Wilhelm

Check out my other habitats in this series: The Nature Preserve, Marsh, Shoreline, Marsh Wetlands, Stargazing and Woodlands Map.

The Nature Preserve illustration

Nature Preserve Illustration by Terri Wilhelm

Welcome to another habitat illustration in my series!

Nature Preserve Illustration by Terri Wilhelm

This illustration of a nature preserve—created using a blend of watercolor, colored pencils and collage techniques—presents a vibrant, lively forest scene full of detailed textures and diverse wildlife. This was inspired by a recent hike I did in The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor where we saw these wonderful creatures in this beautiful habitat!

Nature Preserve Illustration by Terri Wilhelm

The scene centers around a gently winding stream that flows around and through lush green meadows and a dense forest in the background with flora and fauna collage elements giving a slightly raised, 3D effect.

Nature Preserve Illustration by Terri Wilhelm

I included a mix of conifers and deciduous trees, added grasses, small shrubs, grasses, flowers and mushrooms to fill the forest floor. I also added rocks and ripples in the stream to create depth, a turtle hanging out on a fallen log and a frog leaping.

Nature Preserve Illustration by Terri Wilhelm

The composition is teeming with wildlife, each animal individually cut and pasted, giving a slightly raised, three-dimensional effect, from an egret wading at the water’s edge, a deer standing nearby, a mink scurrying across a fallen log covered with mushrooms, two wild turkey roaming a grassy area, a blue jay in flight, a woodpecker clinging to a tree, a monarch and dragonfly hovering above the water, and owl perched high in the tree.

Nature Preserve Illustration by Terri Wilhelm

The soft watercolor textures, three-dimensional collage elements, flowing transitions and natural color palette create a whimsical, handcrafted charm reminiscent of children’s book illustrations or educational posters.

Nature Preserve Illustration by Terri Wilhelm

I wanted to convey a scene of layered details of a healthy, diverse forest habitat, leaving the viewer with a peaceful experience to discover this ecological richness.

Check out my other illustrations in this eco system series: Woodlands Map, Marsh Wetlands, Shoreline, and a Marsh.

Eco System Postcards by Terri Wilhelm

Stay tuned for the next one in this series!