Yellow Sponges

Yellow Sponges

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

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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

Longspine Squirrelfish

10x8" oil on stretched canvas

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

Deep Reef Impression

10 x 8"

oil on stretched canvas

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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

8 x 10"

oil on stretched canvas

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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

8 x 10"

oil on stretched canvas

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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

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

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.