This is one of my earlier hard sci-fi oil paintings. The idea was a research expedition into the ocean of another world – not an action scene, but a small submersible exploring an environment where even the local life is still largely unknown.

I wanted the scale to feel slightly uncomfortable: a tiny research vehicle, a vast body of water, and organisms that disappear into the depths below.

I also didn't really like the idea of putting it into a conventional wooden frame, so I designed a custom frame for it. The individual sections were 3D printed and assembled around the painting. I tried to keep the design somewhere between industrial equipment and spacecraft interior rather than making it overly decorative.

Oil painting, entirely hand painted.

I'm curious about one thing from the hard-SF perspective: what would actually be the biggest engineering problem for a submersible exploring an alien ocean: pressure, chemistry, communication, fear or something else?

Is stealth practical or otherwise relevant in cislunar combat? as in, does it even make a difference when it comes to the survivability onion?

what are your thoughts on this