Sketch: Local Predators

I'm building a collection of stylized shark illustrations that have crazed, maniacal expressions. They will often be accompanied by mugs of beer or other diver paraphernalia. They are just for fun, but could be incorporated in invitations, logos, or other material for the diving collective, Nauticlub.

The first round includes a Bluntnose Sixgill Shark, Hexanchus griseus, a Spotted Ratfish, Hydrolagus colliei, and a Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias. I will continue to add more distinctive species to the collection such as Hammerhead, Leopard, Tiger, Blacktip Reef, and Blue Sharks, as well as a few skates and rays. For the moment, I've designed only predators from local waters.

A Bluntnose Sixgill Shark, Hexanchus griseus. They can reach more than 18 ft in length and have been recorded at depths greater than 6,000 ft. ©Scott Okumura

The Sixgill will occasionally surface for an exceptionally good beer. Here, a beer frenzy is about to ensue.
©Scott Okumura

A Spotted Ratfish, Hydrolagus colliei — a scrappy shark relative. Harmless, unless swallowed whole.
©Scott Okumura

In Puget Sound, it is extremely uncommon to encounter sharks unless you are actively trying to find them by diving deep at night during the summer months at particular locations. Even then, it's not a given that you will find them. The exception is the Spotted Ratfish, Spiny Dogfish, Longnose Skate, and Big Skate, which can all be found in relatively shallow water throughout the year.

A Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias. ©Scott Okumura

Diving encounters with Great Whites and other varieties have been reported outside of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, south and west of Neah Bay. However, it is possible that they enter the Sound, even to points south of Tacoma. A December 2002 report from a salmon fisherman off Point Defiance would appear to support that. The report is believed to be credible because it came from a former Point Defiance Aquarium employee of 20 years, Bob Saltino. He claims it was 2 to 4 feet longer than his 16 foot boat. That is just great.

A pair of awesome predators — not impartial to some excellent libation. ©Scott Okumura

Orca. ©Scott Okumura

Inspiration: Pirate Flags

Pirate flags once evoked powerful emotions of fear and dread for people on or near the sea. They were designed to herald acts of unimaginable cruelty and to thereby demoralize their intended prey. The many symbols of mortality and the uneven way in which they're drawn contributes a sense of depravity and an apathy toward the observer. They are marks that were never meant to be marveled at for the quality of their design, yet they seem very successful at leaving an indelible impression.

Here is a sampling of some famous marks:

Top: Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart) x2, Jean Thomas Dulaien, Christopher Condent, Christopher Moody
Middle: Edward Low, Edward Teach (Blackbeard), Emanuel Wyne, Henry Avery, Edward England
Bottom: John Rackham (Calico Jack), Richard Worley, Stede Bonnet, Thomas Tew, John Quelch

As an exercise, I've created several marks for our diving collective, Nauticlub that draw on what I've learned about the symbology. My goal was not to strike mortal terror in the hearts of my enemies, but simply to capture some of the enigmatic appeal of a pirate flag.

The popular version of the Nauticlub mermaid. ©Scott Okumura

Slightly more discrete. ©Scott Okumura

The first iteration had more discrete hand placement and was found to be less popular among heathen divers.
©Scott Okumura

A dive flag added as a base. ©Scott Okumura

A version of the classic flying hourglass suggesting that life (air) is fleeting. ©Scott Okumura

Another flying hourglass — this one including the shape of a skate for wings. ©Scott Okumura

Based on Thomas Tew's flag featuring a hand wielding a cutlass; a portent of inevitable slaughter. ©Scott Okumura

A Bluntnose Sixgill Shark — elusive resident of the Pacific Northwest. ©Scott Okumura

Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker — part of a series of critters on dive flags. These were designed to be used as event tags to accompany invitations to dive meetings shared via Facebook. I've also printed them as stickers for divers that attend events that I host as a Divemaster. ©Scott Okumura

Grunt Sculpin. ©Scott Okumura

Pacific Red Octopus. ©Scott Okumura

Inspiration: Vintage Caribbean

Zeezicht (meaning "sea-view") is a waterfront restaurant and bar in Kralendijk on the island of Bonaire. Bonaire is part of the Lesser Antilles island chain in the southern Caribbean popular now for diving, wind surfing, and birdwatching. The bar was built in 1929 for fishermen and has been owned by a single Dutch family for three generations. Perhaps as a consequence, much of the old architecture and decorations have remained in place and a sort of layering effect has occurred in which old and new can be found together.

The following are some choice highlights that I found among the rafters, wall-hangings, and seat cushions and a few designs that I was inspired by them to reproduce.

Several old, hand-painted tropical fish first caught my eye. It's the discoloration that I like most, but the forms are interesting for their crude realism. Other than the Lionfish, the resin forms are identical, but the paint variations disguise the fact.

The many hand-painted fish forms that hang on the wall and rafters are made of resin and look to be from the 60's. I've seen modern replicas but the care that goes into the painting has been greatly diminished, giving them a cheap appearance. I especially like the Lionfish for it's complex form and semblance to scientific illustrations from the 1800s.

This rough coral pattern and interesting teal color from the seat cushions has a neat vintage look to it.

Carving of a monkey and a pair of mermaids (?)

On one of the heavy beams overhead can be found a crude carving of two mermaids with a monkey sitting cross-legged between. I'm not sure what it signifies, but I like the pose and the symmetry and have created a vector drawing from it for later use, possibly as a framing device. I'm sure that it has a story behind it but I neglected to ask.

My vector drawing based on the carving. I've added a beckoning gesture. ©Scott Okumura

Two mermaids with entwined tails. ©Scott Okumura

There is a plywood cutout of a sailfish on the front porch that I like for its simplicity. I think it would look good on a white wall so I plan to try it, perhaps with a dorado or some Pacific Northwest fish like sculpin or rockfish. The black detail has a distinctive look that I will emulate. The rough sepia wash gives it a good antique appearance.

A folk art alternative to fish taxidermy. I like the flowing black pattern on the fins and gills.

Nice yellowed and brown coloration on this old shark. Probably the effects of nicotine. It's the typical wall-hanging of almost any seaside establishment.