Cooked Lobstah| Marine Portraits Watercolor

A Portrait of the Sea on the Table

This original Cooked Lobstah gouache watercolor was originally painted more than fifteen years ago by CEDAR Y SAND founder Stacey Testa as part of a personal marine naturalist series for her father. Its warm red-brown shell and crisp detailing reflect the lobster as it appears when brought from sea to table—an enduring symbol of New England’s maritime heritage. Now revisited and reimagined, the artwork is collaged with our signature hand-marbled suminagashi paper, framing the portrait with swirling, tide-like patterns that echo the sea from which it came.

From Brushstroke to Suminagashi

Using the Japanese marbling technique of suminagashi, each Hosho paper mat is hand-marbled to mirror the flow of water and air. Once dried, it becomes the setting for the portrait—merging the lifelike detail of the lobster with abstract currents of ink. The interplay of naturalist illustration and suminagashi marbling creates a balance of precision and poetry, timeless yet contemporary.

Matted & Ready for Display

Professionally mounted in an archival off-white mat (12 x 16") with an image area of 8 1/2 x 11 1/2". Each painting is original, collaged, and assembled by hand. Ready to frame, this work bridges natural history and coastal culture—an heirloom that is as vibrant in the home as it is tied to memory.

A Gift of Sea & Story

Perfect for ocean lovers, collectors of coastal art, or those with ties to New England’s maritime heritage. This lobster portrait offers both naturalist accuracy and artisanal craft, making it a meaningful gift or keepsake of the sea.

From the Suminagashi Impressions Collection

This artwork belongs to Marine Portraits, a series within Suminagashi Impressions, where gouache paintings of marine life are collaged with suminagashi-marbled mats. The series features Blackfin Tuna, Mutton Snapper, Cooked Lobstah, and Great Blue Shark—each one a one-of-a-kind original painted and reimagined with CEDAR Y SAND’s signature marbled paper. All pieces are designed, painted, and finished exclusively by CEDAR Y SAND in East Hampton, NY.