Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1507768
A FINE LINE "Nature is very inspiring to me, and I've been painting it since I was young—I star ted watercolor painting by doing biological studies of flowers and plants. I grew up in Spain, in the beautiful Mediterranean landscapes, so nature has always been very prevalent in my work. One of the reasons I love Bal Harbour Shops is that nature plays an import- ant role there; it is really harmonious with the whole environment: The space has flowers and palm trees, as well as koi fish and turtles. I really wanted to capture the fountains and ponds in Bal Harbour because not only are they teeming with life, but the water reflects all the beautiful colors and tones of the plants and people—and of the shops themselves. It really makes it come to life. I also wanted to emphasize the human element of Bal Harbour in my illustration, because it's not just for shopping. It's also a social place. So I wanted each person to stand out and have a di…erent story; someone reading a book , someone just chi l ling, someone eat ing sushi. The people I've painted are a combination of friends and people I've met, as well as images that I found online. I've also added my dog Milo into the middle of the painting!" —As told to Aimee Dawson THIS YEAR'S BAL HARBOUR SHOPS CREATIVE CHALLENGE WINNER, SPANISH-BORN ARTIST SEBASTIAN MARC GRAHAM, CAPTURES THE SPIRIT OF THE SHOPS IN A JOYFUL EXPRESSION OF COLOR AND MOVEMENT. NATURAL CONNECTION 240 BAL HARBOUR