Sketchbook Appraisal

Seahorse Underwater Illustration in Spiral-Bound Sketchbook

This item is an original piece of artwork executed in what appears to be a mixed media style, potentially utilizing colored pencils, pastels, or crayons on white paper. The illustration is contained within a white, spiral-bound sketchbook, shown held by a hand for scale. The central subject is a highly detailed seahorse rendered in warm tones of peach, cream, and yellow, with subtle green accents along its dorsal fin and ridges. Its anatomy is meticulously captured, featuring a curved prehensile tail, segmented body rings, and a distinct snout and crown. The background consists of a deep teal or seafoam green wash representing water, with diagonal light rays filtering down from the top right. Surrounding the seahorse are various stalks of aquatic vegetation rendered in shades of green and lime, featuring small, repetitive leaf structures. The composition fills the entire page up to the top perforation. The condition appears to be excellent and contemporary, with no visible signs of foxing, tearing, or smudging, and the colors remain vibrant with strong saturation. There are no readily visible artist signatures or dates on the front of the page. The style is illustrative and representational, showing a high degree of patience in the layering of colors to achieve depth and texture in both the creature and the surrounding plant life.