Jeff Soto (interviewed) just released a new giclée print through Pangeaseed entitled The Magic Message. Hand embellished and featuring deckled edges, the 18 x 18″ edition was produced in a run of 50, costs $100, and will come signed and numbered. The image highlights the Atlantic Goliath Grouper classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Soto further states – “My love and respect for nature was instilled in me at a young age. My parents enjoyed the outdoors and took us camping as often as they could. As kids we explored the Santa Ana River which seemed a world away from our neighborhood street. This river in the desert was a place to look for hawks, coyotes, wild pigs, crawdad, tadpoles, and fish.. I was always interested in fish!!
The Magic Message is about the beauty and wonder of the natural world. It takes inspiration from multiple undersea and land creatures. The plant is part cacti and part coral, I was looking at undersea volcano tube worms and the white crabs that live there. The base, the vessel that is holding everything is the Goliath Grouper. I have always been interested in these enormous sea bass, as a kid I remember reading that they could grow as big as cars and swallow divers! They are now endangered by overfishing and human impact, as they are quite friendly and easy to spear or catch. They live long lives, reproduce slowly and need protection.”
Discuss Jeff Soto here.
