Baitball - Easy Pickings

Commission - SOLD (200cm x 50cm (79" x 20") Acrylic on Canvas)
Please contact craig@wildlifeartist.co.za for enquiries
© Craig Bertram Smith

It doesn't get more exhilarating than to witness these open water frenzies. Diving gannets are a sure sign of baitfish that have been chased up from the depths. With nowhere to go, the sardines are trapped and form a tight undulating ball. Their only defense is to keep swimming toward to center as the predators gorge themselves picking off the fish one by one.

Painting this detailed scene required careful planning and research. The canvas size also created an extra challenge as I felt I was only able to focus small areas at a time. Having done a concept sketch to refer to helped to keep perspective of the greater composition. 

Preliminary drawing