About

Marina at the 19th Annual Galveston Women's Conference

Hello! I'm Marina dos Santos, and Island Greetings is where I share my love of coastal charm, creativity, and the calming rhythm of watercolor.

Originally from Belem, Brazil, I studied the flora and fauna of the lower Amazon basin as a tropical botanist at the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi. Much of my research involved painting the plants I collected on my long treks through the forest. Those quiet hours of careful observation under the canopy — sketching petals and leaves, the hidden anatomy of a flower — became the foundation for the artist I am today.

I now live in Galveston, Texas with my husband and daughter, where a different kind of beauty has caught my eye and sparked my imagination. Whether it's an exotic shorebird, an orchid in bloom, cocktails at sunset, or even a bikini bulldog, each piece I create captures a small moment of life by the water.

I created Island Greetings because there’s still something special about real, handmade art. Every piece is painted by me, with a brush, on paper — no stock images, no AI, no shortcuts. In a world that’s more digital by the day, making something you can hold, frame, send to a friend, or hang on a wall is so important. Whether you're picking up a print for your home, a card for someone you love, or a watercolor workbook to start your own artistic adventure, I hope my work offers a small escape — a little island vibe, and a reminder that creativity is still, at its best, beautifully human.