The Shark – Art with Bite (literally)

Originally, my first blog post wasn’t supposed to be an art feature – but if fate throws a shark at your feet, you probably shouldn’t try to push it back into the water.

There are animals everyone loves. Cats, for example. They’re absolutely useless—except for looking cute, sitting on laptops, and sprinting through the apartment in the middle of the night with an energy that makes you wonder if you’ve adopted a tiny monster.Or dogs—loyal companions who get excited when you come home, even if you only went out to take the trash for 30 seconds.

And then there are sharks. Sharks are not cute. They don’t pose for Instagram, they don’t make silly noises, and if they come toward you, it’s definitely not because they want to be petted.Sharks are the ultimate gangsters of the ocean. They’ve got that “I don’t owe anyone an explanation” look, and when they show up, it’s clear: the boss has arrived.

And that’s exactly what I wanted to put on canvas. A shark. In acrylic. In all its glory. And not just any “I’m gently swimming and ready for my close-up” shark. No. My shark is coming straight at you. No escape, no detour, no mercy. When you look at him, he looks right back at you—and he definitely doesn’t look like he’s about to give you friendly investment advice.

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Say hello to Bruce! He doesn't bite. Mostly.

Black background? Of course – drama is a must.

There are many ways to paint a shark. In turquoise water, kissed by sunlight, like in a cheesy ocean documentary. Or like in bad movies, where they unrealistically leap out of the water while some clueless tourist yells, “Oh my God!”

But I wanted drama. Deep-sea drama. So: black. Pitch black background. Because what’s scarier than a shark suddenly emerging from the darkness? Exactly – a shark suddenly emerging from the darkness and looking like it hasn’t had a snack today.

The black not only sharpens its silhouette, but also intensifies the mood. A bit like that feeling when you go to the kitchen at night and your cat stares at you from the shadows, clearly pondering whether you still deserve to live.

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But why a shark?

Good question! The answer is simple: because dolphins are overrated and penguins have honestly had enough attention.

Everyone paints penguins. Everyone thinks they’re cute.But what about sharks? They’re always portrayed as the villains, when in reality, they’re just doing their job. And that job happens to be: being the absolute king of the ocean.

Plus, sharks actually make a surprisingly

good metaphor for artists. Think about it:

• Misunderstood: People think the shark is evil just because it has a few more teeth than average. Just like artists, who fall into deep, moody concentration and immediately get asked if they’re "working on that weird phase again".

  
  

• Constant motion: Sharks can’t stop swimming or they’ll die. Artists can’t stop creating—sure, they won’t die, but let’s just say they become very unpleasant to be around.

  
  

• Looks harmless – until it bites: An artist can work quietly and patiently on a piece for months. But say the wrong thing ("Why does it cost so much? It’s just some paint!")

  
  

  …and you’ll witness what a real shark bite looks like.

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The Shark as a Life Motto – Dare to Come at It Head-On

My shark isn’t just an image, it’s a mindset. Sharks don’t ask for permission. Sharks don’t run a SWOT analysis before they start swimming. Sharks just do.

And you can do the same. Be a shark. Swim straight ahead. Don’t wait for someone to recognize your greatness – swim right at them and leave no doubt that you’re here.

Maybe this picture isn’t just art, but inspiration. A reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do is head toward your goal and simply take it.

And if you feel like you could use a shark too – as a piece of art, a symbol, or just a daily reminder to be more shark and less goldfish – let me know. I’ve got something for you.