Featured Artist
Larisa Sved

Larisa Sved is a self-taught artist, appreciative of four seasons of the year in Canada, she loves living in the Cayman Islands. She truly enjoys painting and creating different pieces of art throughout her life, expressing herself by working with acrylic on canvas, wood, rocks. Flowers and tropical birds, sea turtles and fish in her paintings are brought to life. When she applies the paint on canvas, it feels magical, it transforms paint and canvas into something that no one else had done. It is not just a painting; she is painting from her heart. If the work catches someone’s eye, it feels like she has accomplished something. Sved likes to take part in exhibitions, enjoys painting for her family, friends, taking part in fundraisers. Her artwork is currently on display at the “Terra Botanica” exhibition at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands.

Larisa Sved’s paintings are deeply personal and employ realist technique that occasionally moves towards abstraction. As a self-taught artist, she is inspired by the natural surroundings of Canada and the Cayman Islands with her detailed depictions of flora created to convey messages of peace, harmony, and joy.

The Ranunculus flower symbolizes charm and attractiveness. A bouquet of ranunculus says, “I am dazzled by your charms.” The name ranunculus stems from the Latin “Rana” meaning frog, and “nucleus” meaning little. If you imagine these blooms growing abundantly along streams like little frogs in the spring, the name seems quite fitting. They are also often called buttercups.

Ranunculus flowers belong to a genus in the Ranunculaceae family. There are about 600 of them including Buttercups, Anemones, Clematis, Delphiniums, Nigella, Lesser Celandine and Hellebores.

GREEN SEA TURTLES are ENDANGERED. They are threatened by overharvesting of their eggs, hunting of adults, being caught in fishing gear and loss of nesting beach sites. There are many ways that we can help as well: limit our use of plastics, refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle! Use only turtle-friendly products, respect sea turtles beaches and nests, support sea turtle research.

Dryas Iulia often called the Julia Butterfly, Julia Heliconian, the flame, or flambeau is a species of brush-footed butterfly. Over 15 subspecies have been described. Dryas Iulia butterfly’s wingspan ranges about 8-9 cm and it is coloured orange,  brighter in male specimens. This species is somewhat unappetizing to birds. They are fast fliers and feed on the nectar of flowers, such as lantanas and shepherd’s-needle, and the tears of caiman, turtles, the eye of which the butterflies irritate to produce tears. Its caterpillar feeds on leaves of passion vines.

Dryas Iulia is popular in butterfly houses because it is long-lived and active throughout the day. Although, the caterpillars are spiky and may cause a skin rash on humans if touched. This is likely from the yellow liquid that is produced from the tips of the long, black spines that cover its body. Julia butterflies are admired for their rich vibrant colour.

Water lilies symbolize innocence, purity, fertility, pleasure, celebration, hope, rebirth, wellness, and peace. The root word for Water Lilly is Nymphaea, and it can be translated as “nymph”, which is a Greek word that means a feminine soul that had lived in nature, and she was found in rivers, wells, and even lakes. This flower can put itself down so it goes under the water and then transforms itself into the fruit while being submerged.

Not only do they transform themselves in order to become a fruit, but they will also self-propagate and this way they will continue with their life cycles. They also have many benefits for the environment they live in, they become a filter and end up purifying the water where they float. This will also help other aquatic plants that live nearby, and will also help the fish that can be found in the ponds. Water lilies are something special because the fruit they produce can also be eaten. In many places such as India, children usually eat the stems and flowers of this plant as well.

The blue water lily, also known as the blue lotus or sacred blue lily, is prominently featured on the pillars, stone alters and other parts of ancient Egyptian temples. It holds a significant place in Egyptian mythology and is regarded as a symbol of the sun and a sign of rebirth. In many parts of the world, Water Lilies are loved and respected for their medicinal properties. The Blue Lotus in Buddhism is the symbol of the victory of the spirit over the senses, of intelligence and wisdom, of knowledge.

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