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Janavi Kramer

@belowandbeyondart

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Artist | Scientific Illustrator | Storyteller
~ Art that explores the wonders of the Ocean ~
💙 @paditv AmbassaDiver
📧 [email protected]

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🐙 WORLD OCTOPUS DAY GIVEAWAY 🐙

There’s a lot more happening beneath the surface of the Mediterranean than most of us ever see.

And with World Octopus Day coming up this week we wanted to celebrate by shining a light on something really important.

Sea Shepherd’s Save the Octopus campaign is working to protect Mediterranean octopuses from thousands of illegal traps hidden across the seabed. These traps can continue catching and killing octopuses and other marine life, while abandoned gear becomes a source of plastic pollution and ghost fishing. The campaign sees crews removing the traps, releasing animals found alive and gathering evidence to help expose the scale of illegal fishing and push for stronger, lasting protection.

By removing these traps, Sea Shepherd is not only saving animals today, but helping give future generations of octopuses a chance to survive.

To help spread awareness of this vital campaign, we’ve teamed up to host a giveaway featuring the collaborative design I created with Sea Shepherd this summer 🎨

We’re giving one lucky person the chance to win an organic cotton T-shirt featuring the design!

To enter:
🐙 Follow @belowandbeyondart and @seashepherd
🐙 Like this post and share it to your stories
🐙 Tag a friend in the comments - every tag counts as another entry!

By sharing this post, you’re helping spread awareness of a threat that happens largely out of sight, beneath the surface.

Because sometimes the first step towards protecting something is simply getting more people to care about it. 💙

Good luck, and thank you for helping us spread the word! 🐙

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The winner will be announced on Monday 12th October 🗓️

#octopus #seashepherd #defendprotectconserve #oceanconservation #oceanartist by @belowandbeyondart

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12 hours ago

Meet the Snakelocks Anemone ( Anemonia viridis ), one of the colourful creatures you can find hiding amongst rocky shores and shallow waters around the UK and Mediterranean!

Those long, flowing tentacles might look delicate, but they’re covered in microscopic stinging cells called nematocysts, which the anemone uses to capture tiny prey and defend itself.

They also have a fascinating relationship with microscopic algae living within their tissues. Through photosynthesis, these algae provide the anemone with energy, while the anemone provides them with a protected place to live.

And there’s another reason I love them…

Under blue or UV light, Snakelocks Anemones can fluoresce, glowing with vivid green and yellow-green colours that reveal a completely different side to these animals.

So next time you spot one swaying amongst the rocks, remember that there’s a whole lot more going on beneath those tentacles than you might expect!

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✨ Limited Edition prints available on my website.

#anemones #rockpooling #britishmarinelife #oceanartist wildlifeart by @belowandbeyondart

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2 days ago

Maldives Underwater ✨

The fact that you can experience all of this in just a few days is absolutely unreal.

One minute you’re surrounded by hundreds of fish, the next you’re watching a Reef Shark disappear into the blue, or suddenly spotting a Manta Ray emerging from the blue.

There’s just so much life packed into these underwater ecosystems, and somehow every dive manages to feel like discovering a whole new world!

I’ve come home with a very full camera roll, a very full sketchbook and approximately a thousand new things I want to paint 😂

There really is no place quite like it 💙

#maldives #underwaterworld #scubadiving #wildlifeart #oceanartist by @belowandbeyondart

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2 days ago

Dreaming of Mantas 💙

There’s something about seeing these incredible animals in the wild that makes the creative part of my brain go into overdrive. I’ve got so many little sketches, colour combinations and half-formed ideas swirling around at the moment, and I’m very excited to see where they all end up 🎨

So, when I received some new brushes from @tomsstudio, it felt like the perfect excuse to sit down and do a little study of one of my favourite encounters from the trip: a beautiful Reef Manta Ray.

Nothing too serious, just playing around with shapes, movement and those gorgeous markings while getting a feel for the new brushes.

Sometimes these little studies are my favourite part of the creative process. No pressure for it to become a finished piece, just experimenting, getting ideas onto paper and seeing what happens!

And this one has definitely left me wanting to paint a lot more Mantas 👀

I think there might be some very ocean-filled paintings coming out of the Maldives inspiration soon…

#reefmantaray #mantaray #maldives #oceanartist #wildlifeart by @belowandbeyondart

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3 days ago

How can I possibly sum up a week like this?

I’m still trying to process just how incredible @padiaware week at @avanimaldives was.

It was a week filled with diving, conservation, creativity, learning and A LOT of incredible marine life… but more than anything, it was about bringing people together.

We got stuck into beach cleans, took part in Dive Against Debris, learnt about coral restoration, joined shark and ray surveys, explored the incredible biodiversity around the island and I even got to share my own love for the ocean through a couple of watercolour workshops 🎨

There’s something pretty amazing about watching a group of people from all corners of the world come together, share their experiences and learn from one another, all because they have one thing in common: a love for the ocean and a desire to protect it.

And I think that’s what I’ll remember most.

Ocean conservation can sometimes feel like such a huge and overwhelming challenge, but this week was truly a reminder that there are so many different ways we can contribute.

We all have different skills, passions and ways of making a difference, and when those individual actions come together, something pretty powerful can happen.

I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of it, and even though I’m back in the studio, I have a very full sketchbook, a very full heart and a whole new list of things I want to learn more about!

A huge thank you to @paditv and @avanimaldives for bringing this incredible community together and giving us all the opportunity to learn, connect and take action for the ocean.

Now to keep that momentum going… 💪

What’s one thing you could do this week to give a little back to the ocean?

#AWAREWeek #PADIAWARE #PADI #oceanconservation #oceanartist by @belowandbeyondart

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4 days ago

Say hello to the Zebra Shark… although it looks suspiciously more like a leopard!

The Zebra Shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) is a wonderfully unusual carpet shark with one of the most confusing names in the ocean.

And there’s a very good reason for it.

As juveniles, Zebra Sharks are covered in bold black-and-white stripes, giving them their zebra-like appearance. But as they mature, those stripes gradually disappear and are replaced by a pattern of dark spots.

So the zebra becomes a leopard! 👀

Found across parts of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans, these sharks spend much of the day resting on sandy bottoms or amongst coral and rocky reefs. But once night falls, they become active hunters.

Using their long, flexible bodies and powerful tails, they can wriggle into narrow crevices in search of crustaceans, molluscs and small fish. Their barbels also help them detect potential prey hidden amongst the seabed.

And here’s where things get even more fascinating…

Zebra Sharks are one of a number of shark species in which parthenogenesis, sometimes called “virgin birth”, has been documented. This incredibly unusual form of reproduction allows a female to produce offspring without mating with a male, although it appears to be a rare occurrence.

From zebra stripes to leopard spots and even the ability to reproduce without a mate, these sharks are full of surprises 🦈

What’s your favourite Zebra Shark fact?

#zebrashark #sharkart #sharkfacts #oceanartist #wildlifeart by @belowandbeyondart

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6 days ago

Let’s go plant some corals 🪸

During @padiaware week at @avanimaldives, I had the chance to take part in a coral planting workshop, and even though it was only a short introduction, I came away completely fascinated!

I’ve always known how important coral reefs are, but getting to learn more about how coral restoration actually works was a whole different level of appreciation.

Coral reefs support an incredible amount of marine life, protect coastlines and provide food and livelihoods for millions of people. But they’re under huge pressure from rising ocean temperatures, pollution, destructive fishing practices and other human impacts.

One of the things I found most fascinating was learning that there isn’t just one way to restore a reef. Different projects use different techniques depending on the local environment and the species involved, from growing coral fragments in nurseries to attaching healthy pieces back onto damaged reef structures.

And the best part?

Corals are incredibly resilient when we give them a fighting chance!

Restoration isn’t a magic fix for the threats facing our reefs, and protecting healthy coral in the first place is hugely important. But helping damaged reefs recover can give these ecosystems a little extra support while we work on the much bigger problems affecting our oceans.

Now I’m officially hooked and I want to learn MORE 😂

So… if there are any coral restoration projects, marine biologists, researchers or reef nerds out there who fancy taking an overly enthusiastic ocean artist under their wing, I’m all ears! 👀

I’d absolutely love to get involved, learn more about coral biology and restoration, and maybe even find a way to bring some of that knowledge back into my artwork!

Because apparently my sketchbook needed more coral 🪸

#coralrestoration #coralreefs #PADIAWARE #maldives #oceanartist by @belowandbeyondart

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6 days ago

Beautiful but deadly ☠️

Meet the Greater Blue-Ringed Octopus ( Hapalochlaena lunulata ), a tiny cephalopod with one of the ocean’s most spectacular warning displays.

Found across parts of the Indo-West Pacific, these little octopuses spend much of their time hiding amongst coral reefs and rocky crevices. But when threatened, those famous electric-blue rings suddenly light up against their skin.

It’s a striking example of aposematism, a visual warning that essentially says: don’t mess with me 💁‍♀️

And there’s very good reason for the warning.

Despite reaching only around 12 cm, the Greater Blue-Ringed Octopus carries tetrodotoxin, an incredibly potent neurotoxin that can cause paralysis and respiratory failure. So yes, absolutely mesmerising… but definitely one to admire from a respectful distance 😅

Another incredible reminder that in the ocean, some of the smallest creatures can pack the biggest surprises!

#blueringedoctopus #octopus #cephalopod #oceanArtist #wildlifeart by @belowandbeyondart

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9 days ago

There’s something pretty magical about sharing the water with these sharks 🦈

As I’m sure you all know, I’ve always had a soft spot for sharks, but there’s something particularly special about getting to slow down and simply watch these incredible animals go about their lives.

During my time in the Maldives, I had the chance to dive with Nurse Sharks, and honestly… I could have stayed underwater all day!

These sharks can look pretty intimidating when they cruise directly towards you, with their broad heads, powerful bodies and rows of tiny teeth, but Nurse Sharks are generally calm, slow-moving animals. They spend much of their time resting on the seabed or cruising slowly over the reef, often becoming surprisingly comfortable around divers.

And watching them underwater is fascinating.

They move with this almost effortless, unhurried rhythm, weaving between rocks and coral while their barbels help them search the seabed for food. They’re mostly nocturnal hunters, feeding on things like fish, crustaceans and molluscs.

But I think what struck me most was just how peaceful the encounters felt.

There’s something very humbling about hovering quietly nearby while a shark several metres long glides past you, completely uninterested in the fact that you’re there.

Moments like this are a big part of why I love diving. Not just seeing incredible animals, but getting the chance to observe them in their own world, on their terms.

And yes… A couple of them were definitely very curious about my camera too! 😂

Have you ever dived with Nurse Sharks?

#nurseshark #sharkdiving #maldives #oceanart #wildlifeartist by @belowandbeyondart

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9 days ago

Have you ever seen a creature so tiny and detailed?

Meet the Bargibant’s Pygmy Seahorse ( Hippocampus bargibanti ) - one of the ocean’s ultimate masters of disguise!

Growing to just 2.4 cm, this tiny seahorse is almost impossible to spot amongst the gorgonian sea fans it calls home. Its body is covered in tubercles that mimic the coral’s polyps, while its colour can change to match its particular host. In fact, this camouflage is so effective that the species was only discovered when a pair was found living on a gorgonian that had been collected for an aquarium 🤯

These tiny seahorses are incredibly specialised, spending most of their adult lives clinging to their host with their prehensile tails. They’re thought to feed on tiny crustaceans and zooplankton drifting within reach.

And here’s another amazing fact…

It’s the males that give birth.

Females transfer their eggs into the male’s brood pouch, where he fertilises and protects them until tiny, fully formed seahorses emerge.

At this size, even finding one feels like discovering a secret hidden in plain sight.

And that’s what I love about the underwater world. You can be surrounded by an incredible reef and still have an entire little universe of life hiding right in front of you.

Sometimes, you just have to slow down and look a little closer - maybe even with a magnifying glass! 🔎

#pygmyseahorse #oceanartist #wildlifeartist #scientificillustration #biodiversity by @belowandbeyondart

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10 days ago

Painting by the Sea 🎨

I couldn’t have asked for a better place to host a workshop!

For World Manta Day, I held a very special watercolour workshop at @avanimaldives, surrounded by the sea in every direction, quite literally! ( The room even had a glass floor, so we could watch the ocean beneath our feet while we painted 🤯 )

One of my favourite things about sharing my art is seeing what happens when someone realises that creativity isn’t just about making something that looks good. It can be a way to tell your own stories, spark curiosity and share the things you care about!

What started as a group of strangers soon turned into shared paint palettes, plenty of laughter, conversations about the ocean and everyone putting their own spin on their paintings.

And then we finished the evening watching the sun set over the Maldives - it couldn’t have been more perfect!

Thank you to @avanimaldives for making the evening so special, and to @seachangewine for keeping us hydrated 🍷

#worldmantaday #wildlifeart #oceanartist #watercolourworkshop #maldives taken in Maldives by @belowandbeyondart

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12 days ago

Take the ocean with you 🎨

Inspired by the sea, designed with love and made for salty souls like you!

These are a few of my favourite ocean apparel designs, featuring some of the incredible animals that inspire my work.

After spending the last couple of weeks surrounded by some of the most beautiful marine life in the Maldives, I’ve come home with a very full sketchbook and a head bursting with ideas for new designs!

There’s nothing quite like seeing these animals in the wild to get the creativity flowing. From graceful giants gliding overhead to tiny creatures hiding amongst the reef, I’m feeling very inspired to bring some new species to life through art 💙

So… what would you like to see next?

Sharks? Cephalopods? More rays? British marine life? Something completely unexpected? 👀

I’d love to hear your ideas! Tell me which creature you’d most like to see on a tee👇

#oceanapparel #oceanart #whaleshark #mantaray #eagleray by @belowandbeyondart

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15 days ago