ARTIST'S STATEMENT: My artwork depicts the Orca/Killer whale, a powerful marine keystone species, as it preys on a seal along a rugged shoreline. Orcas are known for their cruel, almost murderous nature, as they prey on large mammals like seals, dolphins, and even each other. Without their presence, prey populations could grow unchecked, leading to collapses of fish, squid, and crustacean populations -- resources vital to many other organisms in ocean food chains. This piece captures the intensity and overlooked intelligence of orca predation, as it highlights the technique of intentional stranding, a hunting strategy demonstrating remarkable adaptability. The composition itself -- with the Orca looming in the background, fixated on a terrified seal -- showcases the predator's eerie presence, its essential ecological role, and the foreshadowed fate of the prey. By showcasing/choosing this apex predator, my artwork aims to emphasize the Orca's impact as a keystone species in balancing marine ecosystems.