Starfish Mixed Media

This is one of a new series of small paintings called Little Gems. This one is 8" by 8" and is a study of a starfish - a beautiful sea creature. I have used iridescent gel on the main body which enhances the colours. The sides are painted so further framing is unnecessary. The appearance of the background colour of this artwork changes in different light.
Although starfish live underwater and are commonly called "starfish," they are not fish. They do not have gills, scales, or fins and they move quite differently. While fish propel themselves with their tails, sea stars have tiny tube feet to help them move along. There are about 2,000 species of sea stars. Some live in the intertidal zone, some in deep water, some in tropical areas, some in cold water.
While the five-armed varieties of sea star are the most well known, not all sea stars have 5 arms. Some have many more like the sun star for instance, which has up to 40 arms!
Amazingly starfish regenerate lost arms. This is useful if it is threatened by a predator - it can drop an arm, get away and grow a new arm. Sea stars house most of their vital organs in their arms, so some can even regenerate an entirely new sea star from just one arm and a portion of the star's central disc.
This painting will be sent quickly by tracked delivery and with a Certificate of Authenticity.