Coral Reef Paintings by Melissa Evangeline Keyes

Hello

2008-12-21T06:39:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted since August.

I have just signed up for a seminar about how to make a business of painting. I paint, but I know nothing of how to go about selling, which is business: numbers, records, mailing lists, accounting, taxes, oh, my.

I have made feeble efforts in this direction in the past, but all that important white paper, with important tiny symbols lined up in such precise manners(numbers, words) makes my head spin, and my sight go blank.

Business people have no idea...

So, perhaps there is a glimmer of light in the future, in mid January or so.

Thanks for stopping by, and I'm sorry that this site has been so incomplete so far. I will be improving!

Yellow Sponges

2008-08-23T06:25:00.000-07:00

Yellow Sponges

8x10 inches, 20.5x25.5 cm Oil on stretched canvas

The Doctorfish and Blackbar Soldier fish never stay still for a portrait. Most fish run away, when they see me, a big bubble snorting alien pointing something with a strange eye at them, my camera. The coral is finger coral, the pinkish thing. Most of the rest of the things are sponges.

Longspine Squirrelfish

2008-08-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

Longspine Squirrelfish

10x8" oil on stretched canvas

This is a classic pose for this little fish. At full attention, trying to guess if he should run away.

Deep Reef Impression

2008-08-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

10 x 8"

oil on stretched canvas

I am trying to get away from my perfectionist leanings that prevent me from completing paintings. I'll occasionally do a painting like this one to help me loosen up on my 'normal' paintings.

There is a fish in this image, a Stoplight Parrotfish, right in the middle of the canvas. This coral formation is called Spur and Groove. Sand between long narrow coral heads, the sand eventually falling off into the deep sea.

Stoplight Parrot Fish

2008-08-10T15:17:00.000-07:00

8 x 10"

oil on stretched canvas

Such outrageous colors on a fish! The adult male of this type of fish is blue and green and other colors. They change from this color, somehow. This is an adult female Stoplight Parrotfish. I know I'm not making any sense, but there are strange things that happen on the coral reef. Like Parrotfish that all start life as females. Then, if there aren't enough males, one of the bigger female changes into a "Man Fish" as Islanders would say.

Hawksbill Turtle Resting

2008-08-09T18:24:00.001-07:00

8 x 10"

oil on stretched canvas

This little fellow just sat there as we swam by. I always try to disturb fish and critters as little as possible.

Puffer over a Barrel #2

2008-08-05T05:41:00.000-07:00

8 x 10"

oil on stretched canvas

Another view, from one of the eight photos I took. I try to get as many images as I can when I get an opportunity like this. But I always stop and turn and swim away when the fish becomes nervous about my presence and attention. Puffers are shy. But they must get tired of cowering in dark places, and so come out to enjoy just being up in the water.

This fish and his relatives are the fish that the Japanese serve as "Fugu", a slightly hallucinogenic dish. Puffers have also been found to be the source that Voodoo doctors in Haiti use to make people into zombies. One bite too much, and you'll go into a coma, or even die. Please pass me the peas!

Puffer over a Barrel, #1

2008-08-05T05:24:00.000-07:00

8 X 10"

Oil on stretched canvas

This fellow was hanging out above the coral and the barrel sponge. Usually they hide under a ledge and peek fearfully out at you. They look like cuddly teddy bears with those big round eyes.