Blue whales are the largest animals to have ever lived on Earth, even bigger than the dinosaurs! These magnificent marine mammals can reach lengths of up to 100 feet and weigh as much as 200 tons. Blue whales are baleen whales, which means they have plates of baleen in their mouths instead of teeth. They use these plates to filter massive amounts of krill and other tiny organisms from the water, consuming up to 4 tons of food per day!

Despite their enormous size, blue whales are gentle giants. They are found in all oceans except the Arctic and are known for their deep, resonant calls that can travel for hundreds of miles underwater. Sadly, these incredible creatures were hunted to near extinction in the 20th century. While they are now protected, they still face threats from habitat loss, entanglement in fishing gear, and climate change.

Each painting in this series was created on handmade recycled paper and is approximately 6x8.5 inches. The proceeds from this project have the potential to raise $10,000 for wildlife conservation, specifically helping Endangered to Critical Endangered species.

Thank you for your contributions -- there is so much to learn and do to protect the incredible wildlife we share this planet with.