Dolly Varden Trout Sketch

 I had just about finished this sketch last night and would have posted it just before midnight. However, two things intervened at that late hour. A shooting at the end of our street ('murica) and then Tina's cousins had a refrigerator leak and needed some assistance. So, I'm a day late and you can call this a #Sunday/MondayFishSketch.

As with last week and in conjunction with #25DaysOfFishmas, the theme was framed as a quiz. My internet search was correct and was validated by the aquarists at the Belle Isle Aquarium. They enable me to cheat some. 

So, it's a Dolly Varden Trout.

    5x8                          ink in sketchbook  

Texas Cichlid Sketch

 

5x8

ink in sketchbook

I haven't done a #SundayFishSketch in some time and in coordination with #25DaysOfFishmas, the theme this time was a quiz. there were four clues to try to figure out the fish in question. I was coming up with everything but the fish that I needed, so I cheated and consulted the aquarists at the Belle Isle Aquarium. They gave me the answer yesterday, but I found myself down at the aquarium today to do a little volunteer work and lo and behold, they have that fish, the Texas Cichlid on display. Well, a bunch of them, actually.

They were being very uncooperative and wouldn't stay still. This is probably the best pic that I could muster. Speedy, they are.

This Lungfish May Have Some Thoughts On The Michigan Air...

 

The other day, Paul Shuert, the aquarist at the Belle Isle Aquarium sent me an idea on his thoughts of the quality of the Michigan air these past few days; a lungfish, that needs air, as well, may need a gas mask or air filter of some kind, just to get through its day.

Hopefully, the Quebec wildfires will abate soon and we can all breathe a little easier.

Giant Pacific Octopus Tank Design

 

Since the unveiling of the octopus tank at the Belle Isle Aquarium is now official, I can now show the design that I did for it over a year and a half ago. After I submitted my design, it was sent off to a company in Arizona who made it and installed it. It then took awhile to procure the octopus and get it acclimated. I was able to see the cephalopod a few weeks ago and have been itching to share the news. I have yet to see the view of the tank from the front, as I have only seen it from above, behind the scenes, but it even has the same color scheme. I'll have pics soon, for sure!

Yellow Perch Sketch, Part 2

 

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ink in sketchbook

Today's yellow perch sketch theme for #SundayFishSketch is to honor Dr. Katie O'Reilly's recent defense thesis. As it so happens, today I was down at the Belle Isle Aquarium doing some volunteer work and snapped a pic of their yellow perches and came home and sketched one of them. Good timing!

Pumpkinseed Fish Sketch

 

This week's theme for #SundayFishSketch is fish that are native to the Great Lakes, but are invasive most everywhere else, have black ear flaps and the males make the nests. So, I do believe that the pumpkinseed, a sunfish, fits that description. I cheated a little on this one and consulted the aquarist at the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit. He was most helpful.

Belle Isle Aquarium Coming Soon!

 

Recently, the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit asked me to come up with a sign to let visitors know that a variety of tanks in the alcove that are under construction will soon have new residents. This was a challenge with a broken wrist, but I was determined, so I laid the composition out with my left hand and as each day went by I was able to do more and more with my right hand and it became easier, as well. A fun side project, for sure.

The Belle Isle Aquarium Is Open!

 

The Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit has officially reopened as of today. All Covid restrictions have been lifted and will return to the Before Times schedule of Friday through Sunday. 

Dr. Paul Shuert and staff have been holding down the fort during lockdown and taking good care of all the residents, including many new ones. He has also helped guide the tankscapers in their work to spruce up the old tanks and create some new ones.

This cartoon sprang from a conversation with an aquarium alum about how the aquarium needs a tank with one of those cheesy Creature from the Black Lagoon thingies from home fish tanks. And a couple other film nods in there, as well. 

Koi Festival Logo

Well, if there was going to be a Koi Festival at the Belle Isle Aquarium this year, this would have been the logo used for letterheads, buttons, etc. It's basically the same design from last year, but I tweaked it a little by turning the koi to better accommodate the 'aquarium' wording. Plus, I think the fish look a bit better, design-wise. There will be a koi festival to be held in Japan during the month of May, so there's that going on.

Pufferfish Commission

The Hazmat Pufferfish that I did about the Belle Isle Aquarium closing because of the pandemic has made its way to England. I couldn't sell the original, as it was done in my sketchbook and completed digitally, so I recreated it traditionally and sent it off across the pond. I'll post the first drawing that was done for the client soon.

Belle Isle Aquarium-Closed!

The Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit (as well as all other public buildings on the island) has decided to close its doors for a bit to fight the spread of the Covid-19 virus, but don't worry, the staff and fish are on vigilant duty to fight this. The pufferfish (as documented here) has its very own Hazmat suit and all the other fish are washing their fins in earnest. The only problem is all of the suds, you know with that much water and stuff... 

So, with some precautions the doors will reopen soon, I'm sure.

Belle Isle Aquarium 'Tankscaper' Pin

The Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit has a pretty good tankscaping team and who I'd like to think of as the chief (chef) member of that team asked me to help out with a pin design that he could give to each of the members as a way of showing his appreciation. If you ever get the chance, head on down to Belle Isle and see the work that they have done!

I had come up with a few designs, but this one with the coelacanth kept rising to the surface. The aquarium is the oldest one in the US, so why not an old fish to go along for the ride? The top part is keeping with the glass tile of the interior ceiling and the bottom is similar to the bottom walls and dividing wall. The jigsaw puzzle shape is a nod to the team's ability to put together the different pieces that go into making the scenery of each tank display. 

The pins were given to each team member yesterday at a party and hopefully, they were well received.

Belle Isle Koi Festival

Tomorrow, if you find yourself on Belle Isle, stop on by the Conservatory and Aquarium for the Annual Koi Festival.  The festival has taken place of the annual Koi Transfer that brought the koi fish out from their basement winter dwelling and back out in the pond for the summer. Since the koi now reside outdoors year-round a celebration of the koi and Japanese culture has taken its place. 

The above design by yours truly is being used for buttons to be given out, probably for a small donation. 

In some small secret circles, this event might be known as the Corey Festival. You can ask around, but it might be denied...   

Shiver On The River 2019

I'm a little late in the day for this post, but it's still in time. If you are son inclined, head on down/over/up to Belle Isle (you know the one, that big island in the middle of the Detroit River) for the Shiver on the River event that is held island wide every first Saturday of February. There will be things to do at most of the buildings on the island, including the aquarium. I will be helping out with the marshmallow station out front with some fun volunteers. So, if you like fish and marshmallows, stop on by.  

Belle Isle Aquarium Holiday Stroll

Belle Isle's Holiday Stroll will take place tomorrow evening from 5-9. Stop on by the aquarium. The DIA and Pewabic Pottery will be on hand and there will be marshmallows to singe out front. That's where you can find me, helping to man the fire pits. Someone thought that having me around goo and fire would be a smart thing...

Shiver On The River 2018

If you are in the Detroit area tomorrow and looking for something to do, head on over to Belle Isle for this year's Shiver on the River event. There will be many things to do across the whole island, including the aquarium, where I will be giving a hand at the fire pit/marshmallow station. 

For my sake, I hope that it isn't so cold that there will be an iceberg attached to the snapping turtle...

...because there might be one attached to me, as well.

Sturgeon Floor Decal

Last night at the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit was a fundraiser event to help raise money to maintain the new sturgeon exhibit. It was a great success, a sold out event. On the floor are decals of the above image that I drew up and Linville Design Studio printed up. These sturgeon decals will lead one right to the tank that they currently abode in. As they get bigger, they will be moved to a larger tank (the fish, not the decals). There is also an art exhibit (Ann Arbor artist Dominique Chastenet de Gery is one of the featured artists) that will be on display at the aquarium for the next three months that is all sturgeon related. So, check it out and the sturgeon will lead there!

Aquarium Seahorse Design

These past few weeks I have been part of a team creating a holiday decoration that will be placed in front of the Belle Isle Aquarium, hopefully by next week. I inadvertently left off the back fin thingie that is usually a part of a seahorse's bodily function. The way that the decoration will be put together, it shouldn't be a problem to add that in there. The seahorses will be pulling a Santa seashell sleigh and  will have strings of lights around their shapes. 

Urgin' For Sturgeon Event

This is the save the date promo for an event at the Belle Isle Aquarium in November to raise funds to open the sturgeon exhibit. The night will also kick off an art exhibit that was part of a national show that helped raise awareness to sturgeon conservation. There are talks of including local artists for this, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, here is a link to event page on Facebook.

Sturgeon art by yours truly and the design and text are by Chris Meister.

Shiver On The River 2017

The annual Shiver On The River event held on Belle Isle will be tomorrow (the 4th) from 10-4. I do believe that most of the buildings will be open and having fun things to do and see, including the aquarium, where you can see the latest additions, red bellied piranhas.