illustration: blue crab underwater

I’m feeling crabbie today. Perhaps from being indoors for so long. But it gives me the chance to do drawings :)

The Blue Crab, a regional seafood delicacy, is commonly found in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. In my artwork, I depict the crab as energetic and alive, reaching out for possible food to float by in the strong currents under the sea.

My print is available online. Check it out at my store.

Happy Earth Day and Happy weekend all!

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illustration: stone crab

The Stone Crab is commonly found in the marshes of South Carolina to Florida to Lousiana. Their claws are so large that they are considered a popular delicacy. After one or both of their claws are removed for harvesting, the crab is then returned to the sea where they can miraculously grow back their claws. Fully grown back, in 3 years time, that is.

The stone crab was a fun drawing to do because I got to the chance to experiment with texture on a fascinating creature. I wanted to apply spontaneous brushwork as if the crab was blending in with the rocks or sand. This watercolor painting of mine is remastered for 11 x 17 size print. My illustration is available at my store. Check it out :)

watercolor: dungeness crab (v2)

Along the west coast of America, up to the Pacific Northwest, lives the Dungeness Crab. It is one of the larger family of crabs. Their name is derived from Dungeness, a fish port town in Puget Sound, Washington state. Their lifespan is about 10 years. Commercially caught Dungeness Crabs are usually around 5 years old when their shells reach 6 to 7 inches wide. Crabs grow through a process called molting where it sheds its shell for a new, larger one. Each time this happens, the crab grows 15 to 25%. They can be found in muddy/sandy portions of estuaries with eelgrass, along rocky shores, or as deep as 2000 feet in the ocean where they forage for small fish and invertebrates, such as clams and mussels.

Here is some good news. In a world full of so many threatened species of sea life, Dungeness crabs are actually a very good choice as a sustainable food source.  Regulations is saving the species. For example, in Canada, Dungeness Crab fisheries have catch size limitations. This protects male crabs until they are sexually mature, giving them the chance to spawn before being harvested. Female crabs are also protected by having fishing season restrictions.

What is your favorite prepared way to eat crab?  Mine is Hong Kong-style which is stir-fried in a wok and tossed with soy sauce, green onions, and lots of scrambled egg. Yummy.

I have painted a Dungeness Crab before, however, my approach toward doing watercolor has changed over time, so this is version 2 of the beloved tasty subject.