Mooloolabah fishing boat painting by Alan J. Benge

Fishing boats at anchor form excellent subjects for the marine artist.  It was nearly sunset when I spotted this trawler at the Mooloolabah wharf area on Queensland's Sunshine coast. Ifelt it would look best if I tried out a pen and ink style approach, after establishing a dusky pink background initially.
Red and orange highlight tones were added along with white areas. My aim was to capture the peaceful anchorage at the end of day. I hope you like my original creation.

Moorish Idol fish illustration by Alan J. Benge

If you have ever snorkelled or dived in tropical waters like Australia's Great Barrier Reef, you probably will have seen these marvellous striped inhabitants of the underwater world.  From an artist's point of view, they are fantastic to draw.  In this original acrylic painting, I portrayed the moorish idol on a background of colourful abstract shapes.  Splattered texture was used for effect, along with bold primary colour 'blobs' to represent the incredible beauty of the reef.  

Stylised yacht in stormy waters painting by artist Alan J. Benge

In this whimsical composition, I have tried to incorporate the idea of a rough day on the ocean wave.  Design elements, suitably stylised include curly wave shapes, triangle sails and spiky fish with a fierce sun overhead.  Menacing seagulls soar above the turbulent sea.  Use is made of stripes, zig-zags and circles.  It was fun to produce this light-hearted work, and may well inspire all those who sail yachts to wear their life jackets, and also, to take seasick pills !