Cuttlefish Illustration In Progress

Ok, I've scanned the drawing and imported it into photoshop.  I chose a rust tone for the line art layer, and ochre for the base color layer.  I started shading the eye and I have to admit that "W" pupil is hypnotic.  The transparent flounce is waiting to be detailed.

Cuttlefish Pencil Drawing

This is a just a small cuttlefish, too cute to be scary.  I really like the shape of the pupil.  this was drawn with an HB pencil on recycled sketch paper.  I am afraid that the color stage of this illustration will be very challenging.  All of the Cuttlefish's pigment is made up of tiny dots that the fish can make larger or smaller to camouflage itself.  All in all, this was fun to draw, a mini octopus with a tutu flounce frill.

Moorish Idol Fish Digital Illustration

I really enjoyed drawing this trio of tropical fish. They are moorish idols, Zanclus cornutus, "Crowned Scythe". In schools their stripes make it hard to pick out individual fish.  As in herds of zebra, stripes confuse predators.  They prefer shallow waters and flat reefs, making them popular with snorkelers.  They are also small enough to be fairly common in salt water aquariums.  I love the patterning on the "forehead". So I made sure to include and least one partially frontal view of this lovely little fish.

Deep Sea Angler Fish Illustration

All done!  You are looking at  20 layers of photoshop "paint". If I ever switched to oil paint it'd take months for these to dry. I have to say that after finishing this one, I'm not as frightened of rays or eels.  At the zoo today I stopped in to compliment the green moray on his nice thick coating of slime.  The white spotted river rays wanted to bite me, but I just tapped the other side of the glass that thwarted their attempts.  Is this progress?  Maybe. Just don't expect me to swim with the angler fish!

Here she is folks, the female deep sea angler.  The bait glows to attract prey.  The wide jaws and collapsable stomach help her swallow fish twice her size.  Lucky for me she is a deep sea creature.  It's unlikely I will ever see her in the wild.  As for the male, well you have to read the last post for his information.

Up Next!

I am going to do it!  One of the cool kids on regretsy pointed me to The Oatmeal's take on the Angler.  

Now I have no choice.  Check back tonight for the drawing!

Sea Dragon Illustration - Finished

I imagine that finding one of these in the ocean is like finding a walking stick bug in the woods.  It's pretty rare, pretty hard to see, and pretty gosh golly darn wierd. As I was compiling research photos, I had someone ask me if it was photoshopped.  When I said no, they then asked if it picked up leaves and stuck them on to blend in.  No. This is how they grow. Even though we have photoshop,  the ocean will out-weird us every time.

Sea Dragon In Progress

Stabbing at color.

Sea Dragon Drawing

Drawing this fish was just like drawing a plant.  The sea dragon comes in leafy and weedy varieties.  I've drawn the leafy sea dragon.  The weedy sea dragon is has fewer "leaves" and looks more like it's close relation the sea horse.

Vote New Illustration Subject

I'm holding a new vote on the regretsy forums tonight. I'm going to leave this here in case anyone with a sense of decency would also like to vote.

A deep sea angler fish / Real nightmare stuff

A beautiful anemone or maybe several / Can you tell what I would rather draw?

A leafy sea dragon / Strange and intriguing

Wee Sparklie Distraction

So my birthday is coming up. I'm going to be 36.  We all know that 36 is the vintage costume jewelry birthday.  And because I love you readers, I'm sharing my favorite source in case any of you are also turning 36 this year.   Wee Sparklies restores vintage pieces with unused vintage stones.  She also sells gorgeous vintage stones and supplies.  If you visit and make sure to note the 20% off Coupon Code on the front page of her shop.  Don't buy the clip above unless you want to land my husband in some hot water.  

And if you see him, let him know that 40 is the tropical snorkeling vacation year.  Provided this illustration therapy thing works.

Dragon Moray Eel - Finished Illustration

It took me almost a week to get up the nerve to finish this.  There are many types of moray eels. Quite a  a few of them are gorgeously patterned.  They all have two sets of jaws. The ones you see and another smaller set at the beginning of their throat.  So while they can't really do much more damage than removing a digit or two, those digits really don't stand a chance.  If I'm going to be fair, I really should only be as scared of eels as I am of turtles, because they are both capable of doing the same type of damage.  However turtles do not hide in holes on the ocean floor and lunge out to surprise their prey. Thus I must conclude that eels are much much scarier.  Much.