Gasp!

I've finally gone back to an acrylic painting I started in November. Yes... November. Thankfully, my Stay-Wet Palette is so awesome that it kept my paints moist that entire time. Science!

It's been a while

I'd started this a couple of months ago, and put it aside to work on my Kalina tribute when she died. I've worked on it on and off since then, but finally pushed ahead to get it finished today because I'm eager to use acrylics again and didn't want to leave this sitting around unfinished!

In 2008 I spent some time observing Tilikum and little Trua at SeaWorld Orlando and was lucky enough to get photos of them playing, so I'd been meaning to do a picture like this for a while.

I have an etsy shop, by the way! I'll be making this one available ASAP. So far all of my prints are small, but larger ones will be up there very soon. Thanks for taking a look!

Kalina

Please click for the bigger version!

I really wish this wasn't another tribute piece. Kalina, the first orca born and raised in captivity, died very suddenly this month at the age of 25. I've seen her many times over the last few years and she was always fascinating to watch, especially when she was with the younger whales - it's a shame that she wasn't around when her mother Katina gave birth last week. She was very much a "people whale" like Keiko was.

I referenced a photo I took back in 2008; she had this rather endearing habit of turning her head as she bowed like she was looking around at everyone. I've always found her interesting physically because she had a much "rounder" body type than the other orcas. I always loved her freckles!

Farewell, Sumar

My favourite orca died a couple of weeks ago. I'd been to SeaWorld San Diego each year for the past three, and due to some Comic Con-related screw ups, this year I couldn't go. One of my major highlights of that trip had been to visit my favourite "pod", in particular Sumar, who was such a playful, charismatic whale and always a joy to watch. His sudden illness and death is a shock that still hasn't really sunken in and I'm still regretting that I couldn't see him just one more time.

I drew this based on one of the last photos I took of him as he was messing about between pools with Nakai and Corky. Hopefully it's a fitting tribute to a beautiful animal.

I'm terrible.

After all but abandoning my first blogspot and briefly fluttering about on wordpress, I've landed back on blogspot because, as much as the interface can get on my nerves, at least I can customize the look without paying!

Anyway, here's a silly test post to 1) explain myself, and 2) to make sure I haven't completely bastardized the layout.