Reef Painting WIP (1)

The combination of a burning image from diving in Cebu and a gaping space above my fireplace has brought about a new painting.

There is a moment when drifting towards the edge of the reef, floating slowly towards the abyss, where the colourful reef plunges straight down towards darkness.  I remember the moment precisely, floating towards and then past the edge, thinking "I must paint this."  Has this happened to you?

So, with a wish to create something a bit less prehistoric, I began this sketch.  It incorporates aspects of the few photos I took while diving in the Philippines.

My plan is to paint the background coral reef, full of colour, then add all the multitudes of fish, arthropods, bivalves, mollusks, and cute nudibranchs (sea slugs) I saw! 

I also want to add a Hawksbill sea turtle, along with a silhouetted reef shark (even though I never saw one while diving!  Cheating?)

Last Saturday was a marathon painting day.  I am beginning to realize my art style: that I tend to work in spurts of intense creativity...

So here is where we are with this Coral Reef painting.  Kinda looks like an empty aquarium, ready for some citizens.

Basic background? Check!  Ready for fish? Double Check! 
Destroyed by oil spill?  NEVER! :(