drawing: ceolacanth

The Ceolacanth is a true river monster that existed 65 million years ago. Thought to be extinct, the fish was found in 1935 while someone was deep sea fishing near Madagascar.

Perhaps it shouldn’t be too much of a suprise to find this living fossil. After all, Madagascar is known for the strangest creatures on earth. It is like Mysterious Island, remote and far away from human contact.

I didn’t have access to a real ceolacanth to do this sketch, but I went to the next best place that has these specimens… at the Museum of Natural History (in New York City).

Have a nice Memorial Day weekend! Maybe you’ll have time to go to a museum near you.

sketch: fishing the shoreline

This is my sketch showing that if you are in the right position, then you would have the advantage to catch fish. Fish get spooked very easily from predators that cast a shadow from the shoreline. They are fearful of not only humans per se, but also of birds, racoons, bears, and whatever else that can lunge from behind the cattails and have a taste for fresh sushi.

Last week, I caught a nice-sized White Perch in this manner, pictured, using a worm on a fish-finding rig.

So if you want to better your chances in fishing, just keep in mind the location of the sun in relation to you and your target.

Also, try to cast as far as you can to where the fish are because they can see you better than you can see them. The water surface serves as a giant wide angle lens, viewed from below. And so the fish can say, “Peek-a-boo, I see you.”

cartoon: fish on

This is my drawing of a boy who gets a big suprise at the ocean. I call him fish head. Don’t be afraid. He won’t bite… hard.

illustration: bass and dragonfly

I caught (and released) my first largemouth bass of the year. So I am celebrating with this drawing of a fish “saying hello” to a dragonfly. Just like this bass, I jumped for joy.

cartoon: big catch

Last week, I traveled and lugged my fishing pole all the way to Moab, Utah. I biked along the Colorado River and found a nice spot to fish, and even brought special catfish bait. As I probably said before, I stink at fishing and caught nothing. Later, that day, I asked my uncle to drive me to the nearby lake, called Ken’s Lake. It is pretty body of water for being man-made with lots of submerged boulder structure, though sparse on tree cover. This time, I saw so much fish action on the water, and I eagerly casted away. Again, I caught absolutely nothing. Thanks alot Ken, whoever you are.

Ironically, today’s cartoon drawing of mine is called The Big Catch (where the fish has the last laugh).

Anyway, it was a pleasure to be in a beautiful valley setting, completely different from my East Coast stomping grounds. Moab is an amazing playground for hiking, biking, boating and other outdoor adventures. And maybe… fishing.

8-Bit Fish

This was a good year of fishing for me, and the game fish I caught the most was the Largemouth Bass. They are fighters when they are on the hook. I found that Largemouth are voracious eaters and are eager to take big bait, practically half their own size. I’ve been wanting to capture them in my art, as well, so continuing on the 8-bit theme, here is a trophy for my blog.

sketch: fishing

When fishing. this year, I’ve been using more artificial lures. Partly, because I’ve been feeling sorry about the worms.

illustration: angler fish

Based on a real creature from the deepest realm of the sea, this illustration is of an angler fish, and an unsuspecting little guy.

Happy Earth Day, by the way. Let’s do something to help our environment, such as recycle our disposables properly, or bike to our destinations more. Continue good habits every day! Do environmentally sound things so that all creatures, great and small, can live on as naturally as possible.

Have you done something for Earth today?

painting: rainbow trout

I took up fishing about 5 years ago. And I’m still not very good at it. I’ve only caught an average of 3 fish per season. I’d catch a Yellow Perch or a Stone Bass, and feel like an accomplished male, then release it. But the real reward in the sport is in those large, very smart, finicky fish several feet deep under the canoe – the Trout. So this year, I attended an event at the local sporting goods store promoting fly fishing. All of a sudden, my casual hobby has turned into a formula for rocket scientists. And very expensive. Over $250 for a fly fish rod? Anyway, I think the only way I can capture a trout is with my paintbrush. So, here is a watercolor of a Rainbow Trout.

illustration: prehistoric sea (v2)

Here is sea full of prehistoric creatures including amphibians, fish, trilobites, and a Eurypterid, a descendant of the horseshoe crab. The collage-style composition is inspired by exhibits at the Natural History Museum. This is a print of my original pen and ink drawing, color painted digitally. Prints are available for sale in my store.