We get to know Marie Antuanelle, a multi media artist renowned for her stunning aerial textural portholes with gemstones, pearls, Swarovski crystals, sand. Marie has been living in Australia for the past 10 years following a childhood dream to live close to the ocean.
A Conversation with Marie: Inspired by the Sea
A lot of your artwork has reference to the ocean…
Yes. It mesmerises me. Sometimes, it’s almost like it puts me in a trance. That constant movement of the waves… and flying above—like a bird or a lost soul.
Do you live somewhere where you can see the ocean every day?
I live in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, close to Bondi Beach. We move around a bit, but I always make sure we have proximity to the ocean because that’s where I get my inspiration. I go to the beach and meditate on the place, collect fallen objects like seashells and stones, and then I use these for inspiration. I also use them as a guide through my meditation and in my painting. Most of my paintings are named after, or have some hint of, the place they are inspired by.
> Marie’s original works are often circular, representing a sea portal or the shape of our planet.
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How lovely! So each painting is devoted to a certain beach in Australia or around the world, or a marine resort?
Exactly.
How do you actually create the pieces? Are some taken from satellite images of the ocean?
They are all one hundred percent handmade. I use aerial photography as inspiration; I look at the photos and guide my vision from there. After that, I work with mineral stones, seashells, and pigments. I also use gemstones to pay tribute to my Slavic heritage and to highlight how precious the beauty of untouched nature is for our future generations.
Tell us more about how it all comes together...
First of all, I go to the place and meditate to get the feeling and understand which colour palette I should use. Sometimes I use aerial photography of the place for the composition or perspective. Then I collect fallen objects—like seashells or sand. I figure out what kinds of mineral stones, gemstones, pearls, or Swarovski crystals I want to include. I like to find a nice combination in colour and meaning, as each mineral carries its own unique energy and history.
And then you recreate it?
Not exactly, because I also add the emotions and feelings inspired by the place. For me, it’s about trying to capture the essence of the location, not exactly copying it. I intentionally erase traces of human presence from them—somehow creating a portal to another version of our planet—an untouched nature. I also add halo lighting behind the frame to make the mixed medium artwork glow like a night light.
So your pieces are a little like a scrapbook?
In a way, yes! I’ve been to the place, so I like to include physical elements from it. Most of my originals are round; I think this shape is the best representation of a porthole or a sea portal.
They are beautiful. And they really give you a sense of being by the sea...
Maybe because there are actual physical objects taken from the place in the artwork? That might be a couple of seashells, a bit of sand, or stones.
> Marie adds halo lighting behind the frame to make her mixed medium artworks glow at night.
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How long does it take you to do each piece?
If you count the collection of objects, the inspiration, and sourcing the gemstones, it can take a few months just to figure out the composition in my head. I use several layers of mixed medium, and each has to dry over a couple of days.
What are your favourite Australian beaches?
Definitely Byron Bay. We travel there quite often. But I have a big collection of seashells from everywhere. I have travelled through the world—Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand. Actually, I lived in the US for a while, so some pieces are dedicated to beaches there, like Laguna Beach.
Have you spent most of your adult life travelling and painting?
Pretty much. But I actually started in the corporate world, where I worked for seven years. I eventually realized that creating something that inspires others to take action toward marine conservation is what truly drives me. This is what I am passionate about—it has more meaning than just making money.
Would you like me to help you draft some social media captions for these pieces, perhaps drawing on your experience at Fantastic Framing to maximize engagement?
Follow Marie on Instagram via @antuan_elle
A closeup of the intricate work by Marie
Cover photo credit: Damien Lloyd’s
