Sheepshead Connection: Art with a Purpose for CCA Florida
Sheepshead have always been more than just a fish for me.
They’re tied to some of my earliest memories out on the water with my dad and Uncle Max. It was sheepshead that first hooked me – and when Cory, who’s now my wife, caught her first saltwater fish, it was a sheepshead, too. These striped, tough, oyster-bed dwellers have always been part of our story, from the days when we were just scraping by and they were one of the few fish that kept us fed. It’s a fish a lot of people can relate to – humble, scrappy, and more than a little “blue collar.”
So, when I started working on “Dock Star,” a sheepshead piece I painted for CCA Florida’s event, it felt like a full-circle moment. I knew it was the perfect fish to represent the conservation efforts CCA leads. CCA’s work doesn’t just help preserve the fish we know and love; it also keeps our waterways healthy and thriving. Sheepshead and oysters live side by side, and oysters are a huge focus for CCA because of their role in filtering and improving water quality. Including oysters in the painting was my nod to the crucial work they do – work that gives back to everyone who loves Florida’s waters as much as I do.
More and more, my originals are going straight to conservation causes. Art’s my voice in supporting what CCA is doing to preserve the waters and fish species we’re all so passionate about. I’m honored to be featured as the artist for the third time at CCA Florida’s Boynton banquet on November 7th. Check out more about my work at putmeoutside.com, and to see all the good CCA Florida is doing, head to ccaflorida.org.
