Mako Irusus II sails the Caribbean aboard Star of the Seas. Creating art for Royal Caribbean.
- SCJ
- Sep 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 16
I've always felt comfortable working with companies. Ultimately, it's my comfort zone; it's what I've done for over 15 years working in the luxury industry. Schedules, contracts, deliveries, meetings... all of that puts me at ease.
But collaborating with Star of the Seas is something else. PAINTING is something else.
When you create art, you don't achieve goals under a brand name; you create it under your own name. The pressure is different. So is the excitement.
The message
One day I received a message from Instagram. An art curation agency specializing in hotel art programs had seen Mako I, and Royal Caribbean wanted something like it for its new ship. Specifically, a shark. And specifically for the Star of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world.
The problem: Mako I was already sold.
When I realized it was really Royal Caribbean, I thought about the artists who collaborate with them. The Pearl, that giant 14-meter kinetic sculpture also on Star of the Seas, is made by people who know what they're doing. And there I was, with my balloon animals.
A little bit of pressure.
The difference
Even if I paint the same animal, I never make two works the same. I truly believe I don't know how to do it; I never have. But there's always fear when you change something that worked. What if this version doesn't connect the same way?
I promised to have it ready in a month.
And that's where it all began. Every day, I thought about how this work would travel thousands of miles, that people from all over the world would see it. I changed the colors, made the background more intense: in such large spaces, color has to stand out a bit.
I was so caught up in the work that I forgot to record the process. I was just taking photos to send you. When I have a goal, the world is reduced to that work, those colors, getting where I want... and I forget the rest. Everything.
The moment
When I finished Mako Irusus II and called it a success, I felt something strange. Huge satisfaction, yes, but also fear. I hoped nothing would happen to it during shipping, that I would actually like it.
Packing it was strange. I never thought one of my balloon animals would end up traveling further than me.
Now
As I write this, Mako is cruising the Caribbean on Start of the Seas as part of a cruise art program that includes more than 14,000 works from international artists.
I still feel comfortable working with companies, but now I understand the difference. Before, I met goals for others. Now I fulfill my own dreams.
And that's more scary, but also more life-giving.
Now I understand why art consulting agencies seek artists who can adapt to unique corporate art commissions, such as luxury hotels, private yachts, or permanent collections. It's not just about creating art—it's about creating experiences.
If you're aboard Star of the Seas and meet Mako, please send me a photo. I'd love to hear about her adventure.
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