By Chelsea Reed
The beautiful world underwater is a wild one. “Eat, or be eaten” is a fairly accurate broadstroke description for a fish’s life in the open ocean. But all sealife has an important part to play in this formidable environment, making our untamed oceans vital to our precious planet Earth. Let’s dive in and appreciate a fish’s world as told through mesmerizing art made by talented humans.
The bright yellow colors on this Triggerfish against the serene blue environment almost looks like Flounder from The Little Mermaid. There are many kinds of Triggerfish, including one named after Pablo Picasso! Though Triggerfish in Outer Banks waters aren’t usually as colorful, they are highly sought after by anglers for its sweet, almost crablike flavor.
Yes, those surreal pictures on social media are true. Sheepshead really do have human-like teeth! Outer Banks fishermen have known this for a long time, though. Sheepshead use their strong choppers to grind up shells in their omnivore diet of plants and mollusks. Their mild, cod-like flavor makes them a favorite local delicacy.
The Lionfish is an easily recognizable species for its distinctive stripes and spines. As the name implies, it’s a predatory animal who hunts its prey with the venom in its spines. Believe it or not, Lionfish aren’t aggressive to humans, but their sting can pack a punch. Most humans suffer Lionfish stings because they accidentally get too close underwater.
Many secrets are yet to be discovered in the worlds of our oceans, but thanks to scientific study and public aquariums we at least know much more about them than in the past. We love how the impressionistic strokes capture the wonder and beauty of a fish’s world in this painting. Its calming presence is excellent for a beach cottage or even a doctor’s office.
Just like animals on land, some fish in the wild stick together in groups to survive. This social strategy is called forming a “school.” A predator is less likely to hunt fish in a school than if they are alone because they can create the impression of one bigger creature. This artist encountered a colorful school of Common Bluestripe Snappers while scuba diving. Their shimmering entourage inspired her to create this gorgeous painting!
Can you believe that this underwater world is made entirely of paper? You wouldn’t want to get this little treasure wet, but it resembles so much like a colorful reef, you can easily feel the cool splash of water looking at it. Reefs are like watering holes to sea life, they are important for the ecosystem. The paper textures match the seagrass, sand and coral perfectly.
Seaside Art Gallery hosts the Animals in Art Show, a special exhibit of original art that helps local pets in the Outer Banks community. During the Show, a portion of the purchase from each piece that features an animal (fish included!) will be donated to charity to help domestic pets in need. You can find out more about that here.
Chelsea Reed is a copywriter who writes winning content, articles, blogs, and websites from her base in North Carolina. She might not be building sandcastles or swashbuckling with pirates these days, but the Outer Banks beaches continue to keep her young at heart.
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An award-winning master artist, teacher, and wildlife enthusiast, David Hunter enjoys demonstrating the craft of depicting animals and the great outdoors in his etchings. His wonderful interpretations of the Outer Banks are no exception, and they often herald the celebration of classic American summers and their natural settings.
