Curiosity || Acrylic on canvas (16 x 16) || April 2012
It felt like ages since I’d painted orcas. I wish I had time to paint them every day.
Aaaand it’s done.
Corner of my current work in progress that I’m hoping to finish tomorrow. Productivity! Hooray!
Bank cormorant sketches. I had the pleasure of working with the only bank cormorants in human care a couple of years ago, two brothers, and they were fascinating birds. This endangered species is only found in South Africa and has suffered great losses in recent decades due to oil spills, habitat degradation and predation by alien mammals granted access to bank cormorant colonies by bridge construction; in 2006 the population was estimated to consist of only 2,800 breeding pairs.
Weedy sea dragon sketch. Sometimes I struggle to believe they didn’t come from the mind of Brian Froud.
Completed!
Weedy!
Some beluga sketches for today.
Maui’s dolphins - Acrylic on canvas (16 x 18)
A subspecies of the Hector’s dolphin, the Maui’s dolphin is found only off the northwest coast of New Zealand’s North Island and is one of the smallest cetaceans. It is also the world’s rarest: In early 2012, an updated survey determined that the entire population consists of only 55 individuals - a decrease of over 50% since the previous estimate in 2005. The main contributing factor to the Maui’s dolphin’s decline is believed to be commercial fishing methods, particularly gillnets, that result in a significant number of dolphins taken as bycatch.
The New Zealand government is proposing to extend the current protected area for Maui’s dolphins and is looking for submissions from people like you to guide their decision. You can help this critically endangered species by clicking here and signing the petition. The deadline is April 11th.
• Hector’s and Maui’s Dolphin SOS
• New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust
• New Zealand Department of Conservation: Dolphins
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• My website
• Facebook page
One of the things I’ve always wanted to do with my art is raise awareness, and after hearing about the recent survey of Maui’s dolphins that put their numbers even lower I felt like I could do something. Please sign the petition to the NZ government I linked to and spread the word - there are only 9 days left to sign, and with one last push we can get this incredible species the better protection it so desperately needs.
Quick zebra shark sketch!
Drawn today while I was at the theatre. I’ve had these guys on the brain today.
Some of my work is on display at the Academy Theatre in Atlanta until later tomorrow! This is my hopeful face.
A little whale shark I doodled onto some canvas paper as an experiment with watered down acrylics, some new ink pens, and producing some simpler illustrations.
Big studio progress today! My favourite things from my orca collection that I was able to bring over from England are finally on display in the new case I got earlier. I’m unbelievably happy to see them out again. I still have to get some shelving for the plush pod, books, and art supplies, as well as a better chair and a table to work on, but I’m enjoying the process and can’t wait to get back to painting after the weekend.
Plug plug plug! There’s now a tumblr just for my marine life art. I’ll be posting works in progress as well as sketches, doodles and lots more things that don’t make it into the portfolio. There’s not a lot there at the moment, but there will be regular updates. Reblogs are hugely appreciated! Thank you!
Acrylic painting of a loggerhead sea turtle known as Murphy that I’ve finally finished after working on it (on and off) over the last few very busy months.
A stranded hatchling, Murphy was rescued over ten years ago and spent most of his early life at the Jekyll Island 4H Center before moving to Georgia Aquarium in 2009. When Murphy reached an appropriate size he was rehabilitated before being released off Jekyll Island on August 31st, 2011. Though his satellite tag detatched in early January, he logged more than 2,000 miles in those four months and was last tracked close to Cape Canaveral. You go, Murphy!
I made a tumblr for my art! Please feel free to follow it if you’re interested in my marine life art but not the rest of the things I post.
