100 Days of Reef Fish Seahorses: 2/10: watercolor painting of a Longsnout Seahorse, Hippocampus reidi. The IUCN red list classifies this Western Atlantic seahorse as near threatened. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #dothe100daysproject #sundayfishsketch #projectseahorse #iconicfishes

100 Days of Reef Fish Seahorses: 1/10: Tiger Tail Seahorse, Hippocampus comes. For the next 10 days, I’ll be painting seahorses to support #projectseahorse and #iconicfishes #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Beautiful Reef Fish Day 10/10: Mandarin Dragonet, Synchiropus splendidus. The blue color of this fish is due to having a relatively rare blue pigment. Most other blue fish only look blue. See alt for info #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #dothe100daysproject #sundayfishsketch

100 Days of Reef Fish Beautiful Reef Fish 9/10: watercolor painting of a Coral Grouper, Cephalopholis miniata. A colorful midsized predator, this fish is a hind rather than a grouper, in spite of the common name. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Beautiful Reef Fish 8/10: watercolor painting of a Fairy Basslet, Gramma loreto, a very small but brilliant Western Atlantic fish is cleaner fish (it eats parasites that infest other fish). #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Beautiful Reef Fish 7/10: watercolor painting of a Red Lionfish, Pterois volitans. This strikingly colored fish is native to the Indo-PacifIc but invasive in the Caribbean, Western Atlantic, and Mediterranean. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Beautiful Reef Fish 6/10: Queen Triggerfish, Balistes vetula. The IUCN lists this Western Atlantic triggerfish as near threatened. Some countries protect its breeding grounds, but near Brazil, stocks have decreased by 90% #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Beautiful Reef Fish 5/10: Moorish Idol, Zanclus corutus. The common name may refer to the reverence that fishermen in some parts of Southeast Asia have for these fish. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject #sundayfishsketch

100 Days of Reef Fish Beautiful Reef Fish 4/10: juvenile Emperor Angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator. This fish radically changes its color/pattern as it matures. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Beautiful Reef Fish 3/10: Copper Band Butterflyfish, Chelmon rostratus. These fish form long-term monogamous pairs. Thanks again, Uncle Scotter, @dinosaucerous.bsky.social for the suggestion. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Beautiful Reef Fish 2/10: Flame Angelfish, Centropyge loricula. Their shape makes them agile, helping them to evade predators. Thank you, Uncle Scotter, @dinosaucerous.bsky.social for suggesting this lovely reef fish. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Beautiful Reef Fish 1/10: Honeycomb Cowfish, Acanthostracion polygonius. The intricate pattern breaks up the boxfish’s silhouette for camouflage Thank you, Dana Ransby, @danaransby.bsky.social for suggesting this beauty. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Iconic Fish 10/10: Longspine Squirrelfish, Holocentrus rufus. This is my pick for an iconic reef fish. See image ALT for the story. Tomorrow I start 10 ‘beautiful’ reef fish. What fish do you think is the prettiest? #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Iconic Fish 9/10: Spanish Hogfish, Bodianus rufus. The colorful juveniles of western Atlantic wrasse act as cleaner fish. Thank you, again, @dinosaucerous.bsky.social for suggesting this iconic reef fish. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Iconic Fish 8/10: Ribboned Sweetlips, Plectorhinchus polytaenia. This and other yellow and black grunts are found in current on coral slopes in the Indo-Pacific. The Small Mouth Grunt is a similar Caribbean fish. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Iconic Fish 7/10: Green Chromis, Chromis viridis. Schools of these shy damsel fish hide in acropora coral in the Indo-Pacific. The similar Caribbean fish is the Blue Chromis. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Iconic Fish 6/10: Powder Brown Tang, Acanthurus japonicus. Tangs are surgeon fish, named for the sharp spine at the base of the tail. This was another suggestion of an iconic reef fish from @dinosaucerous.bsky.social #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Iconic Fish 5/10: Green Moray Eel, Gymnothorax funebris. Morays have a second jaw system in the throat which can grab prey like Alien. Thank you @briarrose1987.bsky.social for suggesting the moray as an iconic reef fish. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

Spine-cheeked Anemonefish, Amphipiron biaculeatus. Each anemonefish colony has only one female. If the colony loses her, the next-largest male becomes the new female. Thank you, Bob Camarena, who suggested the iconic clownfish. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Iconic Fish 3/10: Regal Blue Tang, Paracanthurus hepatus. This movie star can change color, turning pale or dark in response to stress. Special thanks to Amber Love, @amberunmasked.bsky.social, for the suggestion. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Iconic Fish 2/10: Porcupine Puffer, Diodon holocanthus. These shy but curious fish can change color and pattern for camouflage. Special thanks to Uncle Scotter @dinosauceros.bsky.social for the suggestion. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject

100 Days of Reef Fish Iconic Fish 1/10: Striped Boxfish, Ostracion solorensis. Boxfish hunt by blowing jets of water into the sand to uncover hidden prey. Special thanks to @crash-edit.bsky.social for the suggestion. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #dothe100daysproject #sundayfishsketch

100 Days of Reef Fish | From Signal to Community Daily art. Daily stories. An experiment in how sharing wonder turns into care—for reefs and for each other. Day 1 starts tomorrow. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs

This is a repost of my watercolor painting of a Dwarf Hawkfish, Cirrhitichthys falco, for my Sunday Fish Sketch and to announce my 100 Days Project. See ALT for more info. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #sundayfishsketch

What do think is the most beautiful reef fish? Starting February 22, I’ll be painting one reef fish per day for 100 days. I need your help with a prompt list. So far, I have 10 suggestions for ‘iconic’ reef fish, but I need 90 ideas. Reply to vote for ‘prettiest’ #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife

Here is a tiger shark for #sundayfishsketch #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife

In your opinion, what is the most iconic reef fish? I’ll be doing the 100 Days project this year. Starting February 22, I’ll be painting one reef fish per day for 100 days. I need your help to generate a prompt list. Reply in comments to vote for your favorites #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife

I collected the original paintings from my parrotfish gallery and put them in a scrapbook as a gift for the guests and crew of the Emperor Explorer dive boat. I hope they will inspire others to protect our reefs and their inhabitants. #scieart #marinelife #coralreef oceanartivist.com/parrotfish-s...

Here is a watercolor painting of a Stoplight Parrotfish, Sparisoma viride, for my Sunday Fish Sketch. Reference photo(s) by Randall Spangler #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #parrotfish #spanglersscuba #sundayfishsketch

Here is today’s drawing, a clown fish. I am still at sea (hence the digital work rather than watercolor) and still not diving (hence a lot of time on my hands). #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife

Protecting parrotfish works but not quickly. New Blog: Why Saving Parrotfish Takes Time #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife oceanartivist.com/protection-p...

Here is a digital drawing of a Black Saddled Toby, Canthigaster valentini #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife

Here is a watercolor painting of a Roundhead Parrotfish, intermediate phase, Chlorurus strongylocephalas, for my #sundayfishsketch #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #parrotfish #spanglersscuba

For years, parrotfish were seen as coral's caretakers. But science is revealing a more complex story. In this post, I explore how parrotfish and corals support each other through a dynamic feedback loop that helps reefs stabilize after damage. #sciart #coralreefs oceanartivist.com/more-than-ga...

Tomorrow is the first dive day, so I’m posting my #sundayfishsketch a little early. This spotted eagle ray painting is part of my current art giveaway. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife

In my first parrotfish blog, I explore why these fish are often called the "gardeners of the reef" and how their everyday behavior helps corals survive. Read the science behind my parrotfish gallery here. oceanartivist.com/the-gardener...

I’m giving away shark paintings to promote ocean conservation later this month. If you’re in the Maldives, you may be one of the lucky winners. #sundayfishsketch #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife

Vibrant fish are the pulse of a healthy reef. For decades, scientists have known that reefs with lots of parrotfish tend to have healthier coral. These fish aren't just colorful, they're working all day, every day, to keep reefs alive. oceanartivist.com/parrotfish-s...

Here is a Pacific Longnose Parrotfish for #Sundayfishsketch Reference photo by #spanglersscuba #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife

Happy New Year

Here is are some watercolor paintings of the developmental phases of Bullethead Parrotfish, Chlorurus spilurus, for my Sunday Fish Sketch. Reference photo(s) by Stephen Spangler #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #parrotfish #spanglersscuba #sundayfishsketch

Every year, I participate in a global creative challenge called the 100 Days Project, an open invitation to pick a creative focus and commit to it for 100 days. oceanartivist.com/100-days-of-...

Happy Holidays from Ocean Artivist oceanartivist.com #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife

Here is a watercolor painting of a juvenile Spotted Parrotfish, Cetoscarus ocellatus, for my Sunday Fish Sketch. Reference photo(s) by Stephen Spangler, Scuba.Spanglers.com #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #oceanconservation #parrotfish #spanglersscuba #sundayfishsketch

Here is a watercolor painting of a Redlip Parrotfish, intermediate phase, Scarus schlegeli, for my Sunday Fish Sketch. Reference photo(s) by Stephen Spangler, Scuba.Spanglers.com #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #oceanconservation #parrotfish #spanglersscuba #sundayfishsketch

Here is a watercolor painting of a Yellowbar Parrotfish, Scarus schlegeli, for my Sunday Fish Sketch. Reference photo(s) by Stephen Spangler, Scuba.Spanglers.com #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #oceanconservation #parrotfish #spanglersscuba #sundayfishsketch

Here is a watercolor painting of a Bluebarred Parrotfish, Scarus ghobban, terminal phase, for my Sunday Fish Sketch. Reference photo(s) by Stephen Spangler, Scuba.Spanglers.com #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #oceanconservation #parrotfish #spanglersscuba #sundayfishsketch

Here is a watercolor painting of a Bartail Parrotfish, Scarus caudofasciatus, for my Sunday Fish Sketch. Reference photo(s) by Stephen Spangler, Scuba.Spanglers.com #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #oceanconservation #parrotfish #spanglersscuba #sundayfishsketch

Here is a watercolor painting of a blacktop reef shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus, for your mid-week pick-me-up. #sharks #sharksandrays #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs

Here is a watercolor painting of a Dusky Parrotfish, Scarus niger, for my Sunday Fish Sketch. Reference photo(s) by Stephen Spangler, Scuba.Spanglers.com #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #oceanconservation #parrotfish #spanglersscuba #sundayfishsketch