The #SundayFishSketch started out as a Twitter hashtag that encouraged like-minded individuals to incorporate art and fish into their weekly lives. Since then, this community has expanded to other social-media platforms, including instagram, Facebook, and BlueSky. It is a great community to join for beginning sketchers and is also a way for seasoned artists to continue to practice. Many of the #SundayFishSketch themes can be fun getaways from your current life while others touch on relevant and current holidays or world topics. Continue reading for highlights of some of the #SundayFishSketch themes, facts, and art that occurred over the last few months.
#SHARKWEEK
Sharks (Selachimorpha), those charismatic fishes with cartilaginous skeletons and with teeth for scales (dermal denticles), are both a terror and delight to behold. With over 500 species currently described, sharks come in all shapes and sizes. Since the 80’s they have also been highlighted for one week every July/August, where programs on the Discovery channel inform viewers about shark facts, conservation, and misconceptions. Our artists sketched some of their most favorite shark species for this week’s theme.
Hidetoshi went with the false catshark (Pseudotriakis microdon). These deep sea sharks are demersal fishes that can be found worldwide in deep oceans. They possess a very oily liver which helps them maintain near-neutral buoyancy in the water.
Silly Sugar Gliders painted an epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum). These sharks are generally nocturnal and can survive anoxic water conditions for up to two hours. They also use a unique form of locomotion for sharks, as they use their fins and bodies to ‘walk’ along the seafloor.
Jennifer illustrated a frilled shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus). These sharks have elongate bodies and dozens of rows of trident-shaped teeth. Similar to the false catshark, they also have lipid-filled livers which are useful for maintaining buoyancy. Their name comes from the extended skin on the gills slits that look like ‘frills.’
#FATHERSDAY
Fish have a wide range of different reproductive behaviors. This week’s theme occurred during Father’s Day, so we wanted to highlight some fun and interesting male reproductive strategies. Some male fish build nests and guard eggs, others hold eggs attached to a hook on their heads. Some male fish even have pregnancies. So, this week our artists celebrated these male fishes.
On a teabag, Seeta drew a seahorse (Hippocampus). Males of seahorses and pipefishes (etc) possess a pouch in which the female deposits her eggs. This pouch acts as a uterus and holds the eggs until the baby seahorses hatch. During the pregnancy, this pouch can also regulate salinity and provide nourishment.
Adam illustrated a three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Males sticklebacks create elaborate nests built of algae, sand, and other debris in which they glue together with spiggin. Spiggin is a proteinaceous substance that comes from the kidneys. Females swim into the tunnel-like structure created by the males and then lay their eggs.
Tatu painted a male jawfish (Opistognthidae). These fish use their mouths to move sand, digging out the burrows in which they live. Males of these usually small fishes are mouthbrooders. Fertilized eggs are held in the mouth for over a week until they hatch. This strategy provides protection for the young prior to hatching.
#FRUITFISHES
This theme had nothing to do with fish eating fruit, but everything to do with illustrating fish named after various plants. Often due to their coloration, patterning, or behavior, common names of fishes take all forms. Below I highlight a few of the fish species our artists sketch that have fruity names.
Tamara illustrated a pineapplefish (Cleidopus gloriamaris). Although it does look like a pineapple, this fish is covered in large pointed scales and possesses a red bioluminescent light organ below its jaw. At night, it uses this light organ to hunt for shrimp.
Nathan sketched a lemon tetra (Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis). A small Amazonian freshwater fish species, the lemon tetra’s name comes from it’s yellowish hue and yellowing of the anal fin.
Filipe painted a tomato clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus) for the plant theme this week. Individuals of this species have a symbiotic mutualism with sea anemones. These fish are unaffected by the anemone sting and both the anemone and the fish protect each other from predators. Although males are mostly orange/red, females can be very black on their sides.
ARTIST OF THE MONTH
Want to know what it is like to participate in the #SundayFishSketch? Just ask our artist of the month, Nora (@greyauk); artist, nature nerd, and taxidermist!
How long have you been participating in the #SundayFishSketch?
I started participating around three years ago.
Why did you decide to participate and has it been difficult to sketch on a semi-regular basis?
I hadn’t been painting for a view years. @CatharticOutlet (one of our previous artists of the month) recommended the #SundayFishSketch to me. Having a goal without pressure made me start painting again and I fell in love with the whole community. I’m a slow painter but I try to get something on paper most Sundays. Everyone is busy, but all over the world people sit down and paint/draw/sketch a fish. That’s special.
Do you believe your art has improved since joining the hashtag?
Depends on the day 😉 but mostly I would say so.
What has been your favorite theme thus far and why?
I wasn’t a fish person before the #SundayFishSketch, so for me a part of the process is also research. I love learning about fish I didn’t know about. I like themes about a specific area (a certain lake, deep sea…), so I can pick a “weird” or endangered fish. But, I also like when everyone paints the same fish like on “Opah-Day,” which (besides celebrating a great fish) is more about the community.
Check out Nora’s instagram and BlueSky for additional art. She is a fantastic painter of both fishy and other things.
START SKETCHING
Interested in participating in the #SundayFishSketch? Join us by posting your fish art on Twitter, and Instagram using the hashtag, or on BlueSky! Are you are interested in learning how to draw fishes but are unsure of where to start? Check out this previous post on ‘How to draw a fish’ as a place to begin. We look forward to seeing your fishy creations!
The Fisheries Blog 
The O-fish-al Art Recap showcases a vibrant blend of creativity and marine inspiration! It’s fascinating to see how artists interpret ocean themes through their unique styles. This recap not only highlights stunning artworks but also raises awareness about ocean conservation. A must-read for art lovers and ocean advocates alike!