The Intertidal Zone as Never-Ending Painting

Authors

• Alison Shields, University of VictoriaFollow

Abstract

An intertidal zone, the area where the ocean meets the land is, by definition, in a constant state of change. As the tides move in and recede daily, the ecosystem continuously transforms as new stimuli are washed in and out, prompting constant motion. Tide pools are thus mini worlds, rhythmically changing throughout the days. I similarly view a painting as an ever-changing ecosystem, each layer responding to new elements while always evolving in relation to what came before. Throughout the past decade, I have sought out a space of not knowing, uncertainty and emergence through the development of both physical and metaphorical never‐ending paintings. In my recent paintings, I engage with tide pools as both subject and as metaphor for the never-ending changes within creative ecosystems and art practices. In this visual essay, I will discuss the evolution of my never-ending painting as both metaphor and a pedagogical approach that celebrates the ecological nature of artistic practice.

Author Biography

Alison Shields is an Associate Professor in Art Education at the University of Victoria. She received a PhD in art education from the University of British Columbia and an MFA from the University of Waterloo. She has exhibited her paintings and drawings within Canada and Europe and has participated in local and international residencies, including The Arctic Circle in Svalbard, Norway, and Friday Harbor Laboratories in Washington. Her current artistic research examines painting processes and local marine ecologies. Contact: ashields@uvic.ca

Recommended Citation

Shields, Alison (2026) "The Intertidal Zone as Never-Ending Painting," Artizein: Arts and Teaching Journal: Vol. 10: Iss. 1, Article 12.
Available at: https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/atj/vol10/iss1/12