November Bubble Painting

The original painting for the November edition of The Bubble Post. 

This painting is inspired by the Candy Darter Fish.

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Candy Darter’s are small freshwater fish native to the shallow waters of the Kanawha River Basin in Virginia and West Virginia. They are known as the underwater rainbows of the Central Appalachian waters and are found nowhere else in the world. Named for their vibrant colors, male candy darters have five black saddles along their backs and nine to 11 vertical bands that alternate red-orange and blue-green along the sides of their bodies. Though females maintain a similar marking pattern, they appear mostly olive green and black. They measure about 2-4 inches and prefer shallow, fast flowing streams.

Darters feed on an array of macro invertebrates and are an integral part of freshwater stream environments, and they also help other species in their life processes. For example, darters may aid in the reproduction of freshwater mussels – important filter feeders that keep rivers clean.

Hybridization and habitat loss have reduced candy darter presence in streams in which they were historically found. In 2018 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the candy darter as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Nearly half of the 35 known candy darter populations have disappeared since the species was first described in 1932.

I chose to highlight the Candy Darter this month because they have beautiful colors that stand out in the Virginia autumn. They shine bright in river waters as underwater rainbows. I have yet to see an autumn like that with bright red and orange colors, and the candy darter embodies the feeling November gives to me. 

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6 in. x 9 in.

Frame not included. 

Only 1 Available.

Painting shipped through USPS.