Mutton Snapper | Marine Portraits Watercolor

A Portrait of the Sea in Color

This one-of-a-kind Mutton Snapper gouache watercolor was originally painted over two decades ago by CEDAR Y SAND founder Stacey Testa as part of a marine naturalist study for her father. Its vivid red fins, golden scales, and sharp profile are captured in striking detail—bringing the vibrancy of reef and shorelines into view. Now reimagined as part of the Marine Portraits series, the work is collaged with our signature hand-marbled suminagashi paper, extending its life into the mat with swirling tide-like patterns.

From Brushstroke to Suminagashi

Each mat is hand-marbled onto Hosho paper using the Japanese suminagashi technique, designed to echo the rhythm of water and air. Once dried, it forms the setting for the artwork—merging scientific study with abstract motion. The gouache painting and marbled matting together create a piece that feels both timeless and alive, grounded in coastal tradition yet modern in presentation.

Matted & Ready for Display

Professionally mounted in an archival off-white mat (12x 16") with an image area of 8 1/2 x 11 1/2". Each piece is painted, collaged, and assembled entirely by hand. Ready to frame, it is an heirloom of art and story—perfect for collectors, coastal homes, or anyone seeking original artwork of the sea.

A Gift of Sea & Story

Ideal for ocean lovers, marine collectors, or admirers of naturalist illustration, this portrait is more than décor—it is a study in beauty and connection. Each piece is unique, embodying both memory and artistry.

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.