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Fish

Freshwater fish illustrated for field guides, books and natural resource agencies, including the northern pike from egg to adult.

Recent work

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Atlantic Silversides and Mummichogs, Menidia menidia; Fundulus heteroclitus — Atlantic Silversides and MummichogsAtlantic Silversides and Mummichogs (Menidia menidia; Fundulus heteroclitus), 2026

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Minoan Bottlenose Dolphin (Knossos), Tursiops truncatus — Minoan Bottlenose Dolphin (Knossos)Minoan Bottlenose Dolphin (Knossos) (Tursiops truncatus), 2026

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Cross-barred Venus Clam, Chione elevata — Cross-barred Venus ClamCross-barred Venus Clam (Chione elevata), 2026

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Hard-shell Clam Quahog (Brooklyn Intertidal), Mercenaria mercenaria — Hard-shell Clam Quahog (Brooklyn Intertidal)Hard-shell Clam Quahog (Brooklyn Intertidal) (Mercenaria mercenaria), 2026

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Hard-shell Clam Quahog (Saltwater Mural), Mercenaria mercenaria — Hard-shell Clam Quahog (Saltwater Mural)Hard-shell Clam Quahog (Saltwater Mural) (Mercenaria mercenaria), 2026

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Atlantic Ghost Crab, Ocypode quadrata — Atlantic Ghost CrabAtlantic Ghost Crab (Ocypode quadrata), 2026

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Hermit Crab, Pagurus longicarpus — Hermit CrabHermit Crab (Pagurus longicarpus), 2026

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Striped Hermit Crab, Clibanarius vittatus — Striped Hermit CrabStriped Hermit Crab (Clibanarius vittatus), 2026

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Stone Crab, Menippe mercenaria — Stone CrabStone Crab (Menippe mercenaria), 2026

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Humpback Whales, Megaptera novaeangliae — Humpback WhalesHumpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), 2025

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Orca Type D - Realm of the Horn, Orcinus orca — Orca Type D - Realm of the HornOrca Type D - Realm of the Horn (Orcinus orca), 2025

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Patagonian Toothfish - nb, Dissostichus eleginoides — Patagonian Toothfish - nbPatagonian Toothfish - nb (Dissostichus eleginoides), 2025

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Pink Cusk-eel, Genypterus blacodes — Pink Cusk-eelPink Cusk-eel (Genypterus blacodes), 2025

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Bluegill Sunfish - Brooklyn Pond, Lepomis macrochirus — Bluegill Sunfish - Brooklyn PondBluegill Sunfish - Brooklyn Pond (Lepomis macrochirus), 2024

Artwork by Gina Mikel: Red Tilefish - Watercolor, Branchiostegus japonicus — Red Tilefish - WatercolorRed Tilefish - Watercolor (Branchiostegus japonicus), 2016

Northern pike, illustration by Gina Mikel — Northern pikeEsox lucius, adult

Northern pike, eyed egg and sac fry, illustration by Gina Mikel — Northern pike, eyed egg and sac fryEarly life stages

Northern pike, swim-up fry and fingerling, illustration by Gina Mikel — Northern pike, swim-up fry and fingerlingEarly life stages

Brook trout, illustration by Gina Mikel — Brook troutSalvelinus fontinalis

Brook trout in a stream, illustration by Gina Mikel — Brook trout in a streamHabitat scene

Lake trout, lean form, illustration by Gina Mikel — Lake trout, lean formSalvelinus namaycush

Including Shellfish and other Aquatic Invertebrates and Marine Mammals:

Zebra Mussel with a striped triangular shell and thin attachment threads, in watercolor, pencil and colored pencil. — Zebra Mussel IllustratedZebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), watercolor, pencil, colored pencil

Fish IllustratedFish, graphite and ink on mylar

Rainbow Trout IllustrationRainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), colored pencil and watercolor

Colored pencil study of a round orange fish egg beside a newly hatched alevin with a large orange yolk sac. — Egg Sac and Alevin IllustrationEgg Sac and Alevin, colored pencil

Colored pencil and watercolor of a Rusty Crayfish viewed from above, with raised claws and a segmented red-brown tail. — Rusty Crayfish Illustrated, Colored Pencil, Scientific IllustrationRusty Crayfish (Faxonius rusticus), colored pencil and watercolor

Watercolor of a Siscowet Lake Trout in side view, showing a deep blue-green body, small fins and a forked tail. — Siscowet, Lake TroutSiscowet, Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush siscowet), watercolor

Lean Lake Trout, Watercolor IllustrationLean Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush namaycush), watercolor

Colored pencil and watercolor study of an orb snail shell, with a flat brown spiral and bright curved highlights. — Orb Snail IllustrationOrb Snail (Gastropoda), colored pencil and watercolor

Colored pencil study of a dark mussel shell, showing layered growth lines and a pale, iridescent upper edge. — Mussel IllustrationMussel, colored pencil

Brook Trout, IllustratedBrook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), watercolor

Watercolor of a Spottail Shiner facing left, with silvery sides, translucent fins and a dark spot near the tail. — Spot-Tail Shiner, Watercolor IllustrationSpottail Shiner (Notropis hudsonius), watercolor

Northern Pike IllustratedNorthern Pike (Esox lucius), colored pencil

Colored pencil study of a rounded Fingernail Clam shell with dark concentric ridges and bright white highlights. — Fingernail Clam IllustrationFingernail Clam (Pisidium), colored pencil

Colored pencil illustration of a scud in side view, showing a segmented body, long antennae and many slender legs. — Scud IllustratedScud (Gammaridae), colored pencil

Colored pencil study of a clam shrimp with a rounded brown shell and feathery appendages extending below it. — Clam Shrimp IllustrationClam Shrimp (Conchostraca), colored pencil

Colored pencil diagram of mussel anatomy, labeling the foot, mantle, gills, digestive tract and two siphons. — Mussel Anatomy IllustrationMussel (Unionidae) Anatomy, colored pencil

Colored pencil illustration of a gilled snail shell with a tall brown spiral and a wide oval opening at its base. — Gilled Snail Shell IllustrationGilled Snail Shell, colored pencil

Deepwater Sculpin, Watercolor IllustrationDeepwater Sculpin (Myoxocephalus thompsonii), watercolor

Colored pencil study of a seed shrimp with a rounded brown shell, long antennae and thin legs extending below. — Seed Shrimp Illustrated, Colored Pencil, Scientific IllustrationSeed Shrimp (Ostracod, Ostracoda), colored pencil

Watercolor comparison of a small swim-up fry and a longer fingerling, both green fish facing to the right. — Swim-Up Fry IllustrationSwim Up Fry and Fingerling, watercolor Keywords related to art on this page: swim up fry, illustrator, artist,

Colored pencil diagram of the mussel life cycle, with numbered close-ups linking adults, larvae and a host fish. — Mussel Life Cycle IllustratedMussel Life Cycle, colored pencil

Colored pencil and watercolor of a crayfish viewed from above, with long antennae and raised claws against black. — Crayfish IllustratedCrayfish, colored pencil and watercolor

Graphite drawing on mylar drafting film of a rounded shell, with raised ribs radiating toward its curved edge. — Illustration of ShellShell, graphite on mylar drafting film Keywords related to art on this page: shell illustration, art, shells,

Queen Conch with its spired orange shell and extended eyes, in watercolor pencil, watercolor and gouache. — Conch Shell IllustratedQueen conch and shell (Strombus gigas), watercolor pencils, watercolor and gouache

Coral reef cutaway beneath a turquoise sea and sandy shore, in watercolor pencil, watercolor and gouache. — Coral Reef IllustrationCoral reef, watercolor pencils, watercolor and gouache

Nassau Grouper with red-brown bars and a spiny dorsal fin, in watercolor pencil, watercolor and gouache. — Nassau Grouper IllustratedNassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus), watercolor pencils, watercolor and gouache

Preliminary coral reef sketch with fish, a diver and seabed life below boats and buildings on the shore. — Coral Reef DrawingCoral reef, preliminary sketch

Colored pencil illustration of a Red Reef Hermit Crab emerging from a coiled shell with large red claws. — Hermit Crab IllustrationRed Reef Hermit Crab (Paguristes cadenati), colored pencil

Colored pencil and watercolor of a pale pouch snail shell, showing a pointed spiral and large curved opening. — Pouch Snail IllustratedPouch Snail (Gastropoda), colored pencil and watercolor

Colored pencil illustration of an orange Kelp Crab clinging to long green kelp fronds against blue water. — Kelp Crab IllustratedKelp Crab (Pugettia producta), colored pencil

Spiny lobster with long blue antennae and a striped tail, in watercolor pencil, watercolor and gouache. — Lobster IllustratedSpiny Lobster (Palinuridae), watercolor pencils, watercolor and gouache

Top-view line diagram of a Rusty Crayfish, labeling its robust claws and the paired dark spots on its carapace. — Rusty CrayfishRusty Crayfish (Faxonius rusticus) with dark spots on carapace and robust claws labeled

A spotted ray with broad raised fins and a long tail swims through blue water beside a colorful coral reef. — Shark and Stingray IllustrationsShark and Stingray, detail of coral reef illustration

Log Perch, Watercolor IllustrationLogperch (Percina caprodes), watercolor

How to draw a fishA watercolor painting needs to start with a light pencil drawing. If your pencil drawing is too dark, the penc

Line drawings of a Horseshoe Crab from above and below, showing its domed shell, underside legs and long tail. — Horseshoe CrabDorsal and Ventral Views of Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus)