Sea Otter in a Kelp Channel

The otter floats on its back with both paws tucked against its chest. Wet fur breaks into small brown highlights, while long kelp blades curl around the body and disappear below the surface. Blue-green light filters down in loose columns, leaving room around the animal's outline.

The face and paws make a compact starting section. Fur pieces become less obvious along the sides, where water and reflected light change the color. Kelp has a strong edge but a soft interior, so match the curl and its shadow before joining two green pieces. Keep the open water separate from the darker channels under the leaves.