![SPACEWHALE002.jpg](https://res.cloudinary.com/hpiynhbhq/image/upload/v1517514506/rllwu86u6q0ezkdum6n9.jpg)

People love Orcas. Or Killer Whales. Whatever you want to call them. I remember back in the 90s, whenever it was that *Free Willy* came out. All the kids in my class were *obsessed* with orcas. Orca shirts, Orca parties, ORCA LISA FRANK PENCIL CASES. Shamoo was going strong, wherever he was, and the kids couldn't get enough of it. Being on the West Coast, where we have our fair share of resident Orcas, we learned about them in school and they were everywhere in our local, even national, imagery. 

For some reason, I didn't subscribe to the Orca-mania. Maybe because I already had big heavy mammals to obsess over- horses. I was too busy shoveling horse shit to give a shit about whales. What good was obsessing over a creature that I couldn't ride, snuggle, or spoil? Give me horses!!! 
![Caity & Flossy001.jpg](https://res.cloudinary.com/hpiynhbhq/image/upload/v1517515536/tyqfqc8r8iicnyitoo2g.jpg)
*That's me & Flossy at our first horse show together. Notice the first place ribbon on her bridle?Awww yeah*
***
Well, I'm not a kid anymore. I can't afford to have horses, and I still have never seen an Orca in real life, despite living on the ocean. I guess I'm just never looking. When I started painting again last year, I knew that I would eventually have to paint an Orca. I was hesitant. It still felt very cliche. But, the tourists here go nuts for the damn things, and they're my target audience, so what the heck. Here's your damn Orca. But I couldn't quite bring myself to paint a plain Orca. It's a space Orca. Deal with it. And it's a messy one at that. A messy, spacey, non-cliche Orca. I hope you enjoy it! 

I was just reading a post by @donnadavisart about creating for yourself, and using your art for your own happiness. This is something I have been trying to exercise in my photography and painting in the last few months. This whale was certainly a crossover moment: "I *should* paint this whale... but I'll paint it *like this* so that it's fun for *me*!"  Anyway, those are my thoughts on Orca art. This probably won't be the last one I paint so *watch this space!* Haha. 

Until next time! Cheers!
***
Don't forget to upvote, comment, and resteem!

ALL content is MY OWN and subject to copyright. Reproduction & distribution is forbidden without my written consent. [www.caitlynchapman.com](https://www.caitlynchapman.com/)

Peace & Love!

![caitycat.jpg](https://res.cloudinary.com/hpiynhbhq/image/upload/v1517514604/ynbksumllkz6wngptozk.jpg)