A41's identity

_{Species depicted: Killer whale or Orca (Orcinus orca)
Time taken: 9 hours 35 minutes
References used: manymany. Mostly actual dorsal fin ID photos from public catalogues for the Residents.
Tools of the trade: Photoshop CS5}

Commission for achrmy

I am so, so very excited to post this piece. Not only is it a return to finishing a full painting after what seems like too long a break, but the story behind it also really got me and on top of that it's got to be one of the most realistic pieces I've ever completed. So this was a commission for Alisha, who approached me with a very unique idea: a painting representing a dorsal fin ID photograph. As some of you may know already Killer whale researchers use the unique shape of the dorsal fin and colouration of the saddle patch of each whale to identify individuals. Being able to recognise individuals helps researchers understand more about the social lives of these animals, where they go, who they associate with, and overall how a population is doing. Some whales however are never identified because they are so seldom seen, others sadly perish before their photo could ever be taken. A41 is one of those animals.

A41 was born in 1984 into the A24 matriline of the A4 pod, which is part of the Northern Resident community. It was the first calf of matriarch A24 "Kelsey", who was 14 years old at the time. Sadly A41 passed away within its first year. Almost half of all wild born Killer whales die before reaching one year of age. Kelsey had four more calves, all of which lived less than five years. Only her last three calves lived longer, and are still alive today: they are A64 "Schooner", A71 "Magin" and A78 "Toba". A24 herself passed away in 2013, aged 46. The A24s also have a rather more famous member: Kelsey's granddaughter A73 "Springer", who lost her mother at just one year of age. She was found, captured and rehabilitated by humans before being successfully released back into the wild. Springer was seen with a calf of her own in 2014.

A41 never got that amount of recognition. In fact hardly anything is known about this little whale, including gender or appearance. As far as the client and I know no photographs of it exist, which is exactly why this piece came into being. It is supposed to be a dorsal fin ID photo of A41, as it may have looked would one have been taken. All appearances have been made up, mostly by the client, but they are based off the known looks of the A24 matriline. The slightly open saddle is a hint back to A41's mother Kelsey who had a similar hook in her saddle.

Here's to all the whales out there who we know or don't know. Who once were, who are now and who will be. 

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