Painting for the Oceans: My Tribute to Wyland and the Gray Whales
Some days remind us exactly why we became artists.
Yesterday was one of those days.
I spent the day creating a mural inspired by the legendary marine artist Wyland and his extraordinary legacy of 100 Whaling Walls around the world. For decades, his murals have transformed ordinary walls into windows beneath the sea, inspiring millions of people to appreciate, celebrate, and protect our oceans.
This mural is not intended to be an exact copy of any of Wyland's work. It is my own interpretation—a tribute inspired by his vision and by my own love of the ocean.
The mural features a family of gray whales, one of the Pacific Ocean's most remarkable migratory species. Every year these gentle giants travel thousands of kilometres along the west coast of North America, moving between the warm lagoons of Mexico and their northern feeding grounds. Living on Canada's West Coast, we are fortunate to share part of their incredible journey.
There are still a few finishing touches to add—some white highlights and my Zipolita signature—but the mural has finally come to life.
A Wall with a History
This wall has quite a story.
Last year it was covered in graffiti tags. Every time I walked past, I wondered if anyone would mind if I transformed it into something beautiful instead.
So I did.
The first mural was a mother orca swimming with her calf. Beside it I painted another mural featuring two joyful whales.
For a long time the artwork remained untouched. Even graffiti artist Capo tagged nearby, but after I repaired the mural, it was respected and left alone.
Then life took me to Mexico.
From January until April I was away, and when I returned, someone had vandalized the mural.
Sprayed across it were the words:
"Nuke the Whales."
Those words hurt.
Not because someone painted over my work—that happens with public art—but because of what the message represented.
Whales symbolize life, family, resilience, and the health of our oceans. Seeing such a hateful message across animals that have inspired so many people was heartbreaking.
As soon as I could, I painted over the vandalism with another orca mural. I wasn't at my best. I had just returned from travelling, I was still recovering, and I didn't have much paint available.
But I wanted that message gone.
Starting Again
Over the months I noticed something else happening.
The wall itself was failing.
It had been painted so many times over the years that layers underneath were beginning to separate. Paint was bubbling, cracking, and peeling away.
Every time I walked past, another piece had fallen off.
When I arrived this week, I started pulling away the loose paint. Before long I realized there was far more than I expected. Large sheets were lifting from the wall.
For a moment I wasn't sure what to do.
There was simply too much peeling paint.
Eventually I stopped worrying about it, picked up my brush, and started painting.
Sometimes that's what artists do.
We cannot control everything.
Walls crack.
Paint peels.
Weather changes.
People vandalize.
But we paint anyway.
Because creating something beautiful will always be a better response than leaving behind something hateful.
Painting in Public
One thing I hadn't expected was how many people would stop.
The wall sits beside a busy walkway, and yesterday there was a constant stream of people passing by.
Children.
Families.
Cyclists.
Seniors.
Visitors from all over the world.
People walking to work.
Neighbours out enjoying the day.
Many stopped to watch the whales slowly emerge from the wall. Some stayed for only a minute. Others stood watching for much longer, asking questions about the painting or telling me about whales they had seen.
Public art has a wonderful way of bringing strangers together.
For a few moments, conversations began between people who had never met before.
They talked about whales.
About nature.
About travel.
About art.
It reminded me that murals don't simply decorate a neighbourhood—they create connections.
And Then There Were the Dogs
One of the happiest surprises was all the dogs.
It seemed as though every few minutes another happy dog came walking by with its person.
I absolutely love dogs.
Some wanted to say hello.
Some watched quietly while their humans admired the painting.
Others were simply excited to continue their walk.
Every wagging tail made me smile.
They added their own joyful energy to the day.
The Children
One of the most rewarding moments was watching the children.
Kids notice things adults sometimes miss.
Many became excited as the whales slowly appeared.
Their curiosity reminded me why public art matters.
Perhaps one of those children will remember seeing whales on this wall years from now.
Perhaps it will inspire them to learn more about our oceans.
Perhaps one of them will become an artist.
Or a marine biologist.
Or someone who simply grows up caring about the natural world.
You never know where inspiration begins.
Thank You, Wyland
Wyland has spent decades using art to encourage people to care about the oceans.
His murals have become landmarks around the world, reminding us that whales are not simply magnificent animals—they are part of a healthy ocean ecosystem that supports life on Earth.
His work inspired me.
This mural is my way of saying thank you.
A Long Day
By the end of the day I was exhausted.
Painting outdoors is physically demanding.
Hours of standing.
Reaching.
Stretching.
Stepping back.
Climbing.
Talking with people.
Finding concentration again after every conversation.
I finally packed away my brushes, treated myself to pizza, and enjoyed one of the longest, hottest baths I've had in a very long time.
Today my body is reminding me just how much work mural painting really is.
And honestly...
I wouldn't change a thing.
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| Mural inspired by Wyland By Zipolita |
Thank You
To everyone who stopped yesterday...
Thank you.
Thank you for every smile.
Every conversation.
Every word of encouragement.
Every child who pointed excitedly at the whales.
Every neighbour who paused to watch.
Every visitor who asked about the mural.
And to every wonderful dog who came by with a wagging tail—you made my day even brighter.
The kindness I received filled my heart more than you know.
Art is never just about paint on a wall.
It's about bringing people together.
It's about replacing empty spaces with hope.
It's about creating something beautiful where there was once neglect.
I hope these gray whales bring a little peace, wonder, and joy to everyone who walks this path.
And I hope they remind us that our oceans—and the incredible creatures who call them home—are always worth protecting.
Thank you, Wyland, for inspiring artists like me to paint for the oceans.
— Tina Winterlik (Zipolita) 🎨🐋💙
Reflective Questions
1. Have you ever heard of Wyland and his famous Whaling Walls around the world? Have you ever seen one in person?
2. Did you know that many of Wyland’s Whaling Walls have disappeared over the years, been damaged, or been painted over? How does that make you feel?
3. What do you think happens when a piece of public art that carries a message of ocean conservation is removed or covered up?
4. Have you seen the former Whaling Wall at the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park, and do you think important environmental artwork should be preserved?
5. What do you think when a mural created to inspire people is replaced by another project or covered over?
6. How do you feel when you see graffiti painted over a beautiful mural that was created with care and a positive message?
7. Do you think murals about nature, whales, and wildlife should be protected like other important landmarks?
8. With events like FIFA bringing changes to public spaces, how do we balance celebrating major events while protecting meaningful public art?
9. If you had the chance to save one mural forever, what kind of message would you want it to share with future generations?
10. Would you like to see more walls, fences, and doors transformed into murals that inspire people instead of being left blank or covered in graffiti?
11. If you had a wall in your community, what story would you want painted on it?
12. Do you think one mural can change how people feel about a neighbourhood, a species, or the planet?
13. Would you like me to paint a mural for your home, business, fence, or community space? What would you want it to represent?
14. How can we make sure the next generation gets to experience powerful public art created by artists who care about the Earth?
15. What does a whale mural make you think about — the ocean, conservation, family, migration, or something else?
#WhalingWall #WylandFoundation #SaveTheWhales #OceanArt #PublicArt #VancouverArtists #WhiteRockBC #MarineConservation #ArtForChange #ProtectOurOceans
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| Gray Whale Family by Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita |
