I have watched many dolphins as I have sailed through the Gulf and been totally enamored of their style and grace. Most of us picture dolphins splashing and playing, riding the wake of a boat as it races across the top of the water. Then off we go, to enjoy the sun and the heat of the day and soon our moment of contact is forgotten. I often wondered what dolphins thought of us. If we met them in cool waters, in their world, on their terms, would their spirits soar as ours do when we see them? Would we trust them as they trust us? What wonderful things would we learn from them if we knew how to listen?

As I painted "Cool Waters", my thoughts were of how a chance encounter might look to me if I were swimming in their world. I would hope they would invite me to play their games and teach me their ways. As they dash through the water, the patterns of light and movement would dazzle my senses and carry me out to sea. Would the boundary of water that surrounds them disappear between us and their songs start to make sense to me?

This was an exciting painting to work through for me. It is easy to see why dolphins have played such an important part throughout history in mythology and mysticism. They express such intelligence, yet as they dance out of reach they tease us into believing that they really do know something we don't. Wouldn't it be exciting if they were as eager to reach out to us as we are to reach down to them as they glide by our boat? What wonderful things we might learn.

- Linda Thompson