Ocean Stories Still Life
Styling and Art Direction
The inspiration of this project came from both the raw nature of the Pacific Northwest as well as a Scandinavian aesthetic rooted in Ballard, a neighborhood of Seattle, WA. Nature is massively important for residents of the PNW. It is a source of pride, recreation, and even identity. Art is no exception.
Nature has had a hand in influencing design, architecture, and many other industries depict, imitate and use nature’s tools like golden ratio, textures, compositions, structural elements, patterns, and many others.
The ocean stories shoot was inspired by ocean currents and harsh weather. Marbling ink with flower and milk was used to imitate intricate and ever changing patterns of the ocean and ocean life art shown on the plates. Limited monotone palette, color scheme and edgy light was used to reflect Scandinavian heritage demographic mixed with Pacific North West elements of Seattle and Ballard in particular. Early Scandinavians settled in Ballard in 1850’s and 1860’s, drawn by fishing and timber industries. Eventually, population has grown to 17,000 in early 1900’s.
Photography by Hilary McMullen
The harmony between Pacific Northwest environment and Scandinavian heritage makes a perfect sense, considering that closeness and appreciation to nature is rooted to not only Scandinavian culture, but also art and design sensibility, where all the elements are essential, minimal, shapes are clean, strong and simple. All is to bring a content without overpowering it with decorations and noise, but using a balance and simplicity to empower one’s imagination.
