A color study exploring complementary colors through the anatomy of a squid.

Year

2026

Medium

Colored pencils on paper

Dimensions

19.5 × 29.5 cm (7.7 × 11.6 in)

Status

Available

This drawing began as a classroom exercise exploring complementary colors while working with a limited palette. Rather than focusing on realism, the challenge was to understand how color relationships could create depth and visual balance.

I chose a squid simply because I find these animals fascinating. Their fluid anatomy offered an opportunity to simplify forms while experimenting with color harmony.

Although created as a study, this piece reflects an ongoing theme in my work: looking to marine life as both inspiration and subject. It was developed during the Complete Illustration Program at Casatinta under the guidance of Leonardo Palencia.

---

🌿 Nature Inspiration

Squids belong to the class Cephalopoda, a group that also includes octopuses and cuttlefish. Their streamlined bodies, large eyes, and remarkable ability to change color make them among the most distinctive animals in the ocean.

For me, squids represent both elegance and movement—qualities that make them endlessly inspiring to draw.