When I began painting "Gentle Giants", my first impression was to show the contrast between two worlds, above and below the water. On the surface, there would be rough water - the wake from a passing motorboat - while beneath the water, a mother manatee and her baby would float tranquilly.

Each manatee that I paint has a different scar pattern. With the exception of the very young, each bears wounds from motor boat propellers that injure and often kill them.

As I worked, the painting evolved into a more peaceful and ethereal underwater scene. I snorkel, so I liked the idea of imagining how lily pads would look from the manattees' point of view. By using the perspective of looking up from beneath the water, I could show more action and dimension from within the fragile world of these gentle giants.

- Linda Thompson