“Live” painting is the process of traversing into nature to capture its natural splendor as it unfolds before you. The effects of this process can be visualized in Cantin’s Beach and Ocean Sunset, in which he captures a gentle wave breaking against the sand. The ocean behind it begins to calm against the backdrop of a bright yellow sun, mingling with the clouds and setting the waves aglow. In this painting, the effects of Cantin’s physical presence while working are displayed in the details that stimulate and give new life to a common subject. The breaking wave is in action, in the process of transition into sea foam and eddying calm, as the water on the sand lulls back. The reflection of the sun’s colors on the ocean appears to be shifting with the waves, like they are being drawn in and out of view. The sky too is in transition into its next phase. The warm yellow of the sun reaches out across the sky, appearing in light purples and pinks along the edges of the clouds, which seem to be in movement themselves, gently wafting by. The perspective of the viewer is at an angle to the beach, giving the impression that they are standing within the scene, toes in the sand, just as Cantin was while painting.

The scene is idyllic, a view of the ocean at peace, wild, and void of people, except for the viewer. The beach is free of trash and appears healthy. While gazing at this beautiful piece, it is important to remember how to keep it this way and work to rid the ocean of the toxic polluters that we, as the earth’s patrons, have imposed upon it.

Beach pollution stems from a variety of sources, including litter, which poses threats to wildlife, and sewer overflow, which contaminates the water and risks the health of humans and aquatic life alike, according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Moreover, the EPA outlines that rising sea levels and the overuse of beaches lead to erosion, destroying sand dunes and valuable habitats. Coastal communities are also at risk, as the erosion of beaches can cause buildings to lose their structural integrity. Unfortunately, we are the barrier blocking unhealthy beaches from returning to their natural state.

By painting a serene view of the beach from the perspective of someone standing on the beach themselves, Cantin calls us to reflect on its beauty and, in this moment of calm, to protect it. If you know the perfect spot for a print of this work to hang in your home, you can order it here.

Cantin’s Sea Turtle and Coral shows a brightly colored sea turtle swimming along a vibrant coral reef, articulated by swaths of pink, red, green, yellow, and blue, a vision of a healthy reef. In the distance, more of the reef recedes into blue hues, with dots of fish swimming above it. Cantin creates movement in this painting with dynamic coral growth. The pinkish corals on the left grow upward, while the yellow coral in the right-hand side of the picture plane has horizontal lines running through it. Some of the corals rise diagonally, and others, like the large red coral feature in the center of the painting, curve in no particular direction. The sea turtle’s shadow on the coral and the extension of its flippers suggest that it is in the moment of traveling just above the coral surface. The fish in the background also suggest activity in their quantity and the ways in which they swim in slightly different directions. This creates the effect of a dynamic, active display of sea life. Coupled with the close-up perspective, Cantin brings the viewer into the depths of the sea, presenting us with a glimpse into a world we don’t often have the privilege of seeing.

The sea turtle is painted in brown with bright strokes of red, orange, and yellow in the shell. Cantin’s use of color here directly connects the sea turtle to its environment with the same reds and yellows that appear in the coral beneath it. In this way, the turtle is shown as being one with its habitat and suggests the necessity of both the sea turtle and the vivid coral to keep this ecosystem thriving.

Cantin’s Two Dolphins is another depiction of aquatic life. In this serene painting, two wild dolphins are shown underwater, swimming upward with their bellies turned toward the viewer. They are surrounded by blue ocean, while the sun shines down through the water and reflects the ripples of surface waves onto the ocean floor. In this work, Cantin creates movement with his use of gentle brushstrokes for the varying shades of blue water surrounding the dolphins. The strokes arc around the dolphins in such a way that draw the viewer’s eye upward, giving the illusion that they are swimming in front of and below the dolphins. In the distance the ocean recedes into deep, dark blue, producing a sense of seclusion, juxtaposed with the closeness of the dolphins to each other. The light piercing through the water and reaching the sand, coupled with the lack of any other creatures in the scene, recalls the effect of being under the waves, as if it is only the viewer and these dolphins in this moment. In this way, the viewer is encouraged to find connection with these soft mammals.

The effects of human activity on wild dolphins tend to be lesser known than those on the sea turtles, but their numbers, like so many other creatures, are dwindling, with some populations of dolphins classified as endangered. According to SEEtheWILD, an organization committed to educating people, nonprofits, and tour companies on how to responsibly interact with wildlife, dolphins suffer in similar ways to the sea turtles.