Kelley Whitley
@kelleywelley
Science educator, scuba enthusiast, and artist.
Today is International Tiger Day! Here is a watercolor painting to celebrate. Now that I’ve got mammals out of my system, I can switch back to fish. #sciart #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026
I created 100 tiny paintings celebrating reef fish. I’m looking for a small number of ocean conservation organizations, reef restoration projects, marine research groups, and community-based conservation programs to help me give them away. See ALT for more info. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife
Oops! Wrong fish! This is a Yellow Goatfish, Mulloidichthys martinicus. #sundayfishsketch #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolorfish2026 #sciart #marinelife
I took the reference photo on an amazing dive trip to the Sea of Cortez. I’ve used this shot before, for digital and pencil drawings, but this is the first time I’ve tried to paint this particular pair. #sciart #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026
July 29 is International Tiger Day, so I’m working on this watercolor painting, which is pretty far outside my comfort zone. Reference photo by Jiri Mikolas, downloaded from Pexels. #sciart #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026
Here is a repost of a Green Moray for #ArtRepostJuly #art #ArtChallenge #worldwatercolormonth
July 14 is World Orca Day! I’m celebrating with this watercolor painting. Since I’ve never seen one while diving, I used a beautiful reference photo by Adam Ernster, downloaded from Pexels. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026
July 14 is Shark Awareness Day! It’s time to set aside the pop culture fear and marvel at their beauty. Nurse Shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026
Here is a quick watercolor painting of an Orangethroat Pikeblenny, Chaenopsis alepidota, for Sunday Fish Sketch. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026 #sundayfishsketch
This is the first time I’ve painted dolphins. I used a blurry underwater photo for my reference; they came and went too quickly to identify. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026
Quick watercolor sketch of a juvenile Bird Wrasse, Gomphosus varius, for World Watercolor Month. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026
Quick watercolor sketch of a Christmas Wrasse, Thalassoma trilobatum, for World Watercolor Month. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026
Quick Watercolor sketch of a Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo cuvier, in anticipation of Shark Awareness Day/Week. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026 #sharkawarenessday
Fire Dartfish, Nemateleotris magnifica, for Sunday Fish Sketch #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026 #sundayfishsketch
Watercolor painting of a Pajama Cardinalfish, Sphaeramia nematoptera. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026
Coral identification sketchbook: Boulder Star Coral, Orbicella franksi. Similar to mountainous star coral with characteristic star-shaped corallites, this species is faster growing but has smaller colonies. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026
World Watercolor Month starts today! In addition to large format pieces (orca and nurse shark), I’m working on my coral identification sketchbook. This is the page for Mountainous Star Coral, Orbicella faveolata. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026
Watercolor painting of Brown Garden Eels, Heteroconger longissimus, for Sunday Fish Sketch. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026 #sundayfishsketch
More Orca practice for World Watercolor Month and World Orca Day. Enjoy! #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026
July is World Watercolor Month, and July 14 is World Orca Day. I was planning an ambitious painting to celebrate. Then I realized I have never drawn or painted an orca before. I thought I had better practice. #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife #worldwatercolormonth #worldwatercolormonth2026
Watercolor painting of a Spotted Scorpionfish, Scorpaena plumieri, one of my favorite subjects, for Sunday Fish Sketch #SundayFishSketch #coralreefs #marinelife #sciart
It’s World Sea Turtle Day! Here is another watercolor painting of a Hawksbill Sea Turtle. This one was much harder to paint. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #seaturtleweek
Tomorrow is World Sea Turtle Day! I’m sharing this watercolor painting of a Hawksbill Sea Turtle to celebrate. Please enjoy! #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #seaturtleweek
I’m taking a short break from painting sea turtles to post a Sunday Fish Sketch, a watercolor painting of a juvenile Pacific Sailfin Tang, Zebrasoma veliferum. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs #sundayfishsketch
Today is Coral Triangle Day! I’m celebrating by sharing this watercolor painting of a typical Indonesian underwater landscape. #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs
Happy World Oceans Day! Here is a watercolor painting to celebrate this year’s theme. “'Reimagine' asks us to close that distance together. To move from passive inheritors of the ocean’s generosity to active guardians of its future.” #worldoceanday #sciart #coralreefs #marinelife
Watercolor painting of a Bicolor Dottyback, Pictichromis paccagnellorum. This small, shy, yet territorial fish native to the central Indo-Pacific is commonly kept in aquariums. It hides in nooks and crannies in thick coral or rubble. #sundatfishsketch #sciart #marinelife #coralreefs
Happy World Reef Day! Here is a watercolor painting of Pillar Coral, Dendrogyra cylindrus, a large hard coral that resembles fingers growing from the sea floor. This Caribbean/Western Atlantic coral is critically endangered and functionally extinct in Florida due to disease and bleaching.