Marine life artist Wyland is a busy guy.

He has been named an official artist of the United States Olympic Team for the 2008 Summer Olympics. He has painted a signature humpback whale on an Aloha Airlines passenger plane. And he's releasing a new book, in time for Mother's Day.

Aloha Airlines unveils its newly painted plane, Koholalele ("flying whale"), during a blessing today at the airline's maintenance hangar. The artist was working on it this week.

"I approached (Aloha Airlines) with the concept ... and literally immediately they said yes. They loved the idea of using an airplane to raise awareness about Hawai'i's beautiful marine life," Wyland said.

For one piece of his Olympic art, Wyland depicts the motto, "Higher, faster, stronger," with three dolphins surging through the sea. The work will be presented as sculpture and wall art.

Also as part of the Olympics in Beijing, Wyland will paint the last installment of his whale-mural project. He plans to invite children from 204 different countries to participate.

"It's a fitting way to accomplish my goal of 100 (murals)," he said.

In connection with Mother's Day, Wyland is promoting his new book, "Swimming Lessons: Nature's Mothers," a collection of photographic essays of mother sea lions and their pups. The book, which "pays homage to the mother-child bond we all share," is available at Borders.