Dive professionals at Wakatobi are turning to watercolour as a source of creativity, calm and personal renewal, drawing inspiration directly from the reefs they explore each day
‘Painting is a sort of meditation,’ says Chiara Sola, a dive professional and resident artist at Wakatobi. ‘When I am in front of the colours, everything else disappears. It’s very important for me to be able to free my mind and relax, and painting allows me to do that.’
After a day spent working at sea, Chiara winds down as island life unfolds against Wakatobi’s backdrop of lush greenery, warm afternoon light and an endless ocean horizon where the water reflects the last light of day.
In her studio quarters, watercolour pigments, fine brushes, and a jar of seawater are always close at hand – the tools she uses to translate Wakatobi’s colours into collector-worthy artwork.
Inspired by Wakatobi’s vivid reefs, much of Chiara’s work mirrors the wildlife she frequents during her time in the water.
‘I’m always fascinated by the different textures and colour palettes you can see underwater,’ she says. ‘Nature can combine the oddest hues and weird patterns and still make them work beautifully. Whenever I’m diving, I look for unusual colours – ones I can bring back into my paintings.’
Chiara’s artwork often catches the attention of resort guests, many of whom recognise her distinctive style in the boutique displays.
‘It’s always so rewarding,’ she says. ‘I’ve met many guests who are also artists, and it’s wonderful to share that passion. People see beauty in my work, even when I look at the same piece and see mistakes.’
Love at first brushstroke
Chiara is not the only dive professional at Wakatobi to rediscover creativity through art. Former colleague Silvia was instrumental in encouraging both Chiara and Roberto to pick up their brushes again. Although Silvia has since moved on from the Wakatobi team, her watercolours still hang in the resort’s boutique.
For Silvia, art was a childhood passion. She attended art school and loved drawing animals, but life led her away from the easel for many years. That changed in 2019, when a long-time guest gifted her a set of watercolours and paper.
‘I left the artistic side of me asleep until I drew a fish I saw at Wakatobi,’ Silvia says. ‘When I started to paint with this unique medium, it was love at first brushstroke.’
When asked what inspires her work, Silvia points to memories formed underwater.
‘I remember the fabulous colours of Wakatobi’s reef, the peace I feel underwater, and the unique character of each creature I’ve encountered over the years,’ she says. ‘It’s a joy to see a subject full of life appear from a white sheet of paper – creating something with our hands is magical.’
Like Chiara, Silvia often paints the marine life she once guided guests to see beneath the surface, but her style leans towards abstraction.
‘The creatures of the underwater world are full of colours, particular shapes, and even personality,’ she says. ‘How couldn’t Wakatobi be inspiring for an artist?
I’ve realised that water has always been the key element of my life – both as a dive professional and as a watercolour artist. Water is wild and has a life of its own, even just a drop flowing across paper with colourful pigments.’
Thinking with colour
For Silvia, Wakatobi’s waters are a muse. For fellow dive professional and painter Roberto, they are also the medium.
Water is not just an influence on his work – it is physically part of it. Each of Roberto’s artist proofs begins with a brush dipped directly into seawater collected at Wakatobi.
‘The water I use to mix the pigments with is straight from the ocean here at Wakatobi,’ he explains. ‘That way, when people buy the artist proofs, they can take an actual piece of Wakatobi home with them.’
Although Roberto took painting classes as a child, he stepped away from art for many years. Surrounded by the warmth and friendship of colleagues like Chiara and Silvia, and inspired by Wakatobi’s vibrant atmosphere, he found the courage to pick up the brush once more.
‘Painting is almost like a healing process,’ Roberto says. ‘Thinking with colours made me see colour again during a grey period of my life. I draw much inspiration from the sunsets and ocean here at Wakatobi. Painting is entertaining, but every piece is a project. I find peace in them.’
Beautiful times at Wakatobi
Many of the artists’ works are displayed in Wakatobi’s boutique, where guests can purchase prints. Some artist proofs – the original, one-of-a-kind versions – are even more personal, often gifted directly by the artists themselves.
‘Some paintings have a special place in my heart because I know they made someone very happy,’ says Chiara. ‘For example, I painted a magnolia for my mum and a pair of longnose hawkfish for my dad, who is also a diver. I still remember their expressions when they received them.’
Looking ahead, all three artists are continuing to expand their creative horizons. Silvia is working on new underwater subjects while experimenting with landscapes. Roberto is exploring larger-scale watercolour formats. Chiara, meanwhile, is keeping future projects under wraps.
‘I’ve already been working on a couple of new subjects for the boutique, but I can’t spoil it – I’d like it to be a surprise for our returning guests,’ she says.
Visitors to Wakatobi may find that their dive or snorkel guide is also one of the resort’s resident artists – and perhaps the key to bringing the spirit of Wakatobi into your own home.
Collectors’ statement
For collectors and art enthusiasts, Wakatobi’s resident watercolour artists offer prints reproduced on high-quality watercolour paper, capturing the vibrancy and detail of each original piece.
The works featured here represent a small selection of the collection available through the resort’s boutique, which is regularly refreshed as new pieces are released throughout the year.
Prints are produced in highly limited editions, with some works offered only as singular pieces. Original artist proofs – hand-signed, one-of-a-kind works – may also be available on request.
For more from Wakatobi or to make a booking enquiry, email: office@wakatobi.com or complete the online form. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram and see videos from the resort and its liveaboard, Pelagion, on the Wakatobi YouTube Channel
