This mixed media on paper rendition of the large painting by Robert Lyn Nelson held at the Smithsonian for many years on loan from NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program.

This represents the diversity of America's oceans and the beauty they hold. It was commissioned for display at the U.S. Pavilion at the 1998 World Expo in Lisbon.

Born in California in 1955, artist Robert Lyn Nelson began creating charcoal drawings at the age of three under the instruction of his father. In his teen years, after the family moved to Hawaii, Robert Lyn Nelson's paintings reflected the land and seascapes of Hawaiian islands he often saw while surfing. Famous for his paintings depicting life both above and below the water, his realistic pieces depicting whales and dolphins are among his most popular.

Using bright colors and fluid movements, Robert Lyn Nelson's paintings bring the seas and oceans to life, and they provide an awareness of marine life and the environment. Robert Lyn Nelson prints are included in the United Nations International Year of the Reef and International Year of the Ocean programs.