That Thing in the Middle Is a Whale

What the painting shows

The painting shows a dreamlike night scene in shades of navy, blue and turquoise. In the upper part of the canvas, a huge, translucent, glowing shape emerges from the dark sky: the belly and fins of a giant whale swimming through the sky as if it were the ocean. Stars and scattered flashes of light surround it, and the sky is filled with layers of bright, billowing clouds lit from below.

In the lower part, a city stretches along a curved horizon, with rows of tiny lights forming an arc, like an image seen through a fisheye lens. In the foreground, on a mirror-like, flooded surface, stand two dark silhouettes: a person and a dog sitting beside them. Both look up at the whale, and their figures are reflected in the water.

The title "That Thing in the Middle Is a Whale" is a jokey explanation for viewers who do not immediately spot the animal in the glowing shape in the sky.

Technique and style

A square oil painting on a large canvas, inspired by the look of Japanese animation, especially the films of Makoto Shinkai and Studio Ghibli, where the sky, clouds and light play the lead role. An almost monochrome, cool palette of navies and turquoises creates a dreamy, melancholic atmosphere. The stars are added with tiny dots of white paint, and the clouds are modelled with a soft brush.

At a glance

• Medium: oil paint
• Surface: canvas
• Orientation: landscape (horizontal)
• Dominant colours: navy, turquoise, blue, white, black
• Subjects: flying whale, night sky, clouds, stars, city, person with a dog, fantasy, anime

Fun fact

A dead whale that sinks to the ocean floor can sustain life for up to 50 years. Scientists call this a "whale fall". A whole ecosystem grows around a single carcass: first sharks and hagfish eat the flesh, then crabs and snails move in, and finally specialised Osedax worms feed on the bones. These worms have no mouth or stomach and digest the bones with the help of bacteria.

Want a similar painting?

The Fart studio paints commissioned artwork: portraits of people and pets, landscapes and absurd scenes like this one. You can order a similar piece featuring flying whale, night sky, clouds, starring your own pet, a loved one or your favourite place. Just describe your idea in the contact form and attach a photo.