The Spectrum-Infused Art of Amanda Zirzow

The Spectrum-Infused Art of Amanda Zirzow

OUR OCEAN UNIFIES OUR WORLD, the beauty and vastness of which is a captivating source of inspiration. The feelings of gliding alongside a sea turtle or coming face-to-face with a lionfish, are some of the amazing experiences I have while scuba diving and share through my paintings. It is that awesome sense of mystery and excitement, that I capture in my paintings.

For my ocean-inspired paintings, Lionfish are among my favorite subjects to paint. Their bold tiger-like stripes and long elegant spines are strikingly beautiful. But more importantly, I paint them to raise awareness about this local marine invader. Lionfish are invasive to Florida, and they were introduced to the Atlantic inadvertently and they currently have no known natural predators in the region.

As a stalking predator, lionfish use their large pectoral fins to propel themselves forward, extending their jaws to swallow their prey, up to twice their own length! With this indiscriminate, voracious appetite, lionfish have been compared to a vacuum cleaner. What’s more, they often kill off key species like the parrotfish, which clean algae off corals. Though the lionfish is a stunning fish, it is harmful to Florida’s delicate coral reef ecosystem. And to make matters even worse, a female lionfish is capable of laying 2 million eggs each year.

Amanda is an avid scuba diver, professor of biological sciences, and professional artist who combines her art with her admiration of wildlife and the environment and an awareness of how each of us can do our part to live in harmony with the creatures we admire.

Bring the beauty and excitement of the ocean to your home with vibrant artwork, perfect for your living room, bedroom, den, or office. To see more one-of-a-kind artwork, visit: