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Top dog - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2010)
Acrylic on Canvas (76cm X 101cm)
COMMISSIONED - SOLD

Dogtooth tuna are a non-pallagic species patrolling deep drop offs, seamounts and steep underwater walls where they hunt other reef species. I wanted to emphasize its hunting habits by painting the scene in deep and low light conditions.

It is a powerful predator that is perfectly adapted to dark conditions as they possess large eyes, big jaws filled with fangs and streamlined torpedo-shaped bodies. In this piece I painted it chasing down one of the ocean speedsters - Kawa kawa to underline its agility and speed.

Preliminary Drawing

 

Quick on the Trigger - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2010)
Acrylic on Canvas (90cm X 120cm)
COMMISSIONED - SOLD

The Yellow-margin Triggerfish is quite an interesting character of the tropical flats. They hover around using mostly pectoral, dorsal and anal fins, the tail is only really used for quick bursts of speed.

In the painting I wanted the corals in the foreground very detailed. The branched staghorn coral echoes the intricate patterns of the light on the sea floor and the yellow tabletop staghorn coral draws the viewer to the focal point. The chartreuse of the crab pattern is also used to echo the colours of the main character which leads ones eye to the action of the painting.

I enjoy painting a scene from two different perspectives, water and air. Clouds form interesting abstract shapes and also create the mood. I wanted to convey a sense of eminent tension as the cumulonimbus storm clouds build in the background, the present pristine conditions could change at any time. Nature is of course anything but predictable.

 

Preliminary Drawing

 

Fur and Hair - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2010)
Acrylic on Canvas (90cm X 60cm)
COMMISSIONED - SOLD

The most recognised animal of the African savannah, the lion, a very social cat, surviving in tight groups, unlike there
other relatives, where they exist as a unit hunting and feeding together. They form lifetime bonds in the pride protecting
and caring for each other. This social behavior is their strength.

In the painting I wanted to explore all the textures, from the harsh dry grasses, to animal's variety of fur and hair.
I worked meticulously at the male lion's thick main of hair as I wanted a very real and tactile sensitivity to the painting.
I also wanted to evoke a personal emotion by creating mood with the somber earthy tones.

Response from the buyer:

"I received the painting this past Monday, it is EVERYTHING I'VE ALWAYS WANTED, and absolutely breathtaking!!!
I love it! I am also so happy that everything worked out!!!" - Ranata Lee, Maryland, USA

Preliminary Drawing

Break Away - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2010)
Acrylic on Canvas (120cm X 80cm)
COMMISSIONED - SOLD

Ignobilis,a fierce and powerful predator of the tropical reefs. One of the most sought-after and respected game fish
targeted by sport fisherman. A hard fighting fish that will put you to the test.
They are truly the lords of the reefs, capable of out-swimming and maneuvering any bait fish it comes across.

Here one large Kingfish breaks away from the group in pursuit of a shoal of fusiliers. Often patrolling the edge
of the reefs, they pounce on anything unlucky to be intercepted by it. A special request from the owner of this painting
was to add a interesting little fish, the undulate triggerfish, in the bottom right hand corner.

Preliminary Drawing

 

Giant Kingfish (Caranx ignobilis) - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2009)
Acrylic on Board (45cm X 45cm)
SOLD

 

River Keeper - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2009)
Acrylic on Board (80cm X 52cm)
SOLD

The elusive brown trout - robust  and an aggressive predator, but selective to what it feeds on.
It is not the easiest trout species to catch, but definitely one of the most treasured. Brown trout and especially the wild variety have some of the most beautiful markings imaginable. Here a male cock fish is indicated with a pronounced kype, evident in older wiser brown trout.  It is examining a large dragonfly imitation. 

"River  Keeper"  has been sensitively painted  to show every intricate detail from scales, fin ray and rock texture to the water's reflection. The detail brings the splendor of the brown trout to life as it would be in the wild.
ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY or enquire about the original

 

New paintings in progress.

Sneak peak of what's coming

Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2009

Preliminary drawing for the new painting of a North American Bison

 

Yellow-margin Triggerfish - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2009)
Oil on Canvas (70cm X 90cm)
COMMISSIONED - SOLD

Just one of the many fish species found on the coral-line flats - the Yellow-margin triggerfish is often seen cruising in pursuit of crabs and other hard shelled crustaceans. Shifting over the coral debris and sand, they give them selves away by the sight of the tips of their tails swaying out of the water while feeding. They seem to hover with just their pectoral, dorsal and anal fins rippling. This strange and eccentric yet beautiful looking fish is striking in its own right. Full of contrasting patterns, the head region being smooth with subtle yellows and pinks, the scaly body and also fins showing very intricate patterns.

While studying this species, sketching and reading, I was amazed and fascinated by their powerful jaws. Lined with round, blunt molars - teeth that are able to crush corals, crabs and other hard shelled molluscs with little effort. Even fishing hooks and flies twist and buckle under the pressure from their powerful jaws as the fish crunches down

Preliminary Drawing

It is always important to me that the habitat of the fish be accurate and just as lifelike as the subject. I wanted to enhance the lighting with intricate patterns and shapes made by the light as it refract though the water on the coralline floor. The water surface is shown in detail, reflecting the sandy floor and also reflecting the triggerfish. I have indicated the dorsal and anal fins rippled and beating as is characteristic of this species. The tip of the tail is seen just breaking the surface.

Earl Strydom (renowned fishing guide and lodge owner) with his record 54kg Kingfish

- (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2009)
Pencil (30cm X 35cm)
COMMISSIONED

 

iCaranx Ignobilis

Preliminary Concept Drawing

The Reef Kings - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2009)
Oil on Canvas (70cm X 100cm)
COMMISSIONED - SOLD

"The Reef Kings" is a commissioned piece, painted to record the memories of fishing on the maldives. One of the most sought after species, the Giant Kingfish (G. T.) is featured here as the "King" of the reef.

The proud owner of this painting, Petrus Gous made the following comments

"When commissioning Craig I had the following in mind, and I included it in my brief to Craig:

Having had the privilege of fishing various tropical islands for GT's on the fly, I have often wondered how the encounter between angler and prey is viewed and experienced by the fish, and what would the perspective be from the fish's point of view? On a recent Fly fishing trip in the Maldives, I had a few opportunities to ambush incoming GT's cruising in the faces of the breaking waves on the pushing tide as they waited to enter the flats via the cuts in the reef, while I was standing on the outer atoll coral reef bommies facing the open ocean. I had to synchronize my casting and retrieving into my stripping basket with the rhythm of the relentlessly breaking waves while trying to retain my balance, and I succeeded in hooking and landing a few of these marauders! I wanted to capture that experience forever in a painting destined for my study, to be able relive those moments over and over again, and to freeze that specific underwater moment milliseconds before the Flashy Profile Fly is smashed by a Giant Kingfish, from its perspective, with the angler only visible through the face of the breaking wave in silhouette.

Craig's painting evokes that special instant perfectly, and every time I admire the painting I am momentarily once more transported to that deserted outer reef, and I can smell and taste the salt air, hear the crashing of the waves on the coral buttress and the sound of the 12 weight fly line being retrieved through the rod eyes, feel the relentless pounding of the breaking waves, the sinuous fly line between my fingers and the accelerating rhythms of my heartbeat, and visualise that special moment of anticipation just before the fly is smashed while I am stripping the fly as fast as I can...

Well done Craig!!!" - Dr. Petrus Gous

 

Sailfish Launch - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2009)
Oil on Canvas (76cm X 101cm)
AVAILABLE

In my latest oil painting, I wanted to take the viewer into the world of high swells, wind, rain and leaping billfish. A world that in it’s grandness can leave one awestruck, not only for the wondrous creatures but also it’s impressive power.

The fastest fish in the sea, sailfish are just one of many oceanic inhabitants that evoke vivid images of the tug-of-war between fishermen and blue-water brute. A battle that usually results in bruised egos or broken tackle. They symbolize power, speed and agility that few other game fish can match. A hook-up with a sailfish can leave you with some of the most memorable fishing.

Craig wanted to depict the sea and environment “alive”, ever-changing and tangible. The fishing boat is pictured being fragile against the rising and falling swell. The misty rain, creating the mood, draws the eye past the boat only to be brought back into the picture by the presence of the sailfish rising diagonally, piercing through the mist.

The sailfish, being the focus, had to be painted in great detail with the characteristic “Sail” fully outstretched. The fly, tossing as the fish tries to rid of it, allows the viewer to derive their own result. The sight of gulls indicates a presence of bait-fish that are close to the surface.

 

 

The Back-line Greyhounds - Garrick / Leervis (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2009)
Oil on Canvas (91cm X 61cm)
COMMISSIONED - SOLD

As the waves roll in while fishing off the rocks, I often find my self imagining what is actually happening just below the surface. I have seen ghost-like shadows of predators bursting through the surf in pursuit of their prey. Above water, on the other hand, it remains an eerie experience. Nearly everything that happens below the water is left to my imagination, where the predators show up as monsters with grizzly teeth.This has fed my life-long obsession with water and the ocean. It has inspired me to conjure up scenes and stories which I have portrayed in my paintings.

This commissioned piece presented quite a challenge. The idea requested was to paint an underwater scene of Garrick (Leervis) hunting, but at the same time showing the fly fisherman stripping the fly through the surface water. This inspired me so much!
In my mind I was replaying experiences of watching the waves rise and build up to crash on the rocks. This gave me the perfect opportunity to delve into these scenes.

 

Preliminary Drawing

After extensive research I began sketching, ending up with a conceptual drawing. I wanted to portray the Garrick chasing after a fly rather than have the fish already hooked. This enhanced the tension in the painting - the viewer becomes the participant - at this point there is no predictable outcome. This leads one to be drawn into the scenario and become a part of the painting. Two other Garrick are seen in the background, as they often hunt in small groups. Mullet dash away for cover. The water level cuts diagonally through the painting, and above it the habitat of the fisherman.

We have quite rough seas in South Africa with great waves and strong currents. I wanted to indicate the turbulence of the water by giving movement as the strands of kelp fronds ripple and wave in the tossing sea. Garrick are often found patrolling just behind the back-line where the waves start forming, so I felt that I needed to show them swimming through.

I really enjoyed painting the intricate patterns of light on the fish in the foreground, it's reflection off the water above it, as well as the subtle rock structure and seaweed suggested in the watery mist.

 

Yellowfin Torpedo - Yellowfin Tuna - (Copyright Craig Bertram Smith-2009)
Oil on Canvas (91cm X 61cm)
SOLD

I chose the Yellowfin Tuna for this painting to portray the fish as it would be in the open ocean - rounding up the last remains of a sardine bait ball. I wanted to emphasize it’s obvious striking beauty, colour and form, showing every bit of it’s incredible design. I wanted the yellow flanks and fins to bring out a vibrancy to the painting and just to break the overall blue.

I think, however, the biggest reason for me choosing the Tuna as a species was to portray it’s vulnerability - symbolizing
natures cry as the oceans are continually leached with more and more fish and animals being listed as critically threatened.
The critical state of our Tuna stocks are a clear indication that our ocean is in big trouble. Man’s continual destruction of the ocean's fish and animal life has resulted in a fish that was so prolific, widely spread just fifteen to twenty years ago, is now in danger of being wiped of our planet for good.

 

 

 

 

Click here for more saltwater Game fish paintings:

Saltwater Game Fish Paintings

Rainbow and Brown Trout Paintings

Leopards and Lion Paintings

Bird Paintings

Wild Dogs

Sketches & Drawings

 

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