Muskellunge | Marine Portraits Watercolor

A Study in Stillness & Strike

This one-of-a-kind Muskellunge gouache watercolor captures the quiet intensity of one of freshwater’s most elusive predators. Originally painted over a decade ago by CEDAR Y SAND founder Stacey Testa, the portrait reflects a deep naturalist observation—its elongated form, mottled patterning, and watchful eye rendered with precision and restraint.

Known as “the fish of ten thousand casts,” the muskellunge embodies patience, stillness, and sudden motion. This piece translates that tension into art—where calm surface meets latent power, and memory becomes form.

From Freshwater Depths to Suminagashi Flow

Revisited and reimagined, the original painting is collaged with CEDAR Y SAND’s signature hand-marbled suminagashi paper. The soft, flowing patterns of the Hosho paper echo the quiet movement of water—less tidal, more still and glass-like—mirroring the muskellunge’s natural habitat.

Each marbled mat is created by hand using the traditional Japanese technique of suminagashi, where ink floats and drifts before being captured on paper. The result is a subtle interplay between control and unpredictability—perfectly aligned with the spirit of the species itself.

Matted & Ready for Display

Professionally mounted in an archival off-white mat measuring 24" x 12", with an image opening of 19 1/2" x 7 1/2". Each piece is painted, marbled, and assembled entirely by hand.

Ready to frame, this horizontal composition makes a striking statement above a console, desk, or shelf—bringing a refined, naturalist presence to both coastal and inland spaces.

A Gift of Presence & Patience

Ideal for anglers, freshwater enthusiasts, and collectors of original art, this piece speaks to those who understand the beauty of waiting, watching, and the quiet rhythm of nature.

More than décor, it is a moment held in suspension—calm, observant, and enduring.

From the Suminagashi Impressions Collection

This artwork belongs to Marine Portraits, a series within Suminagashi Impressions, where original gouache paintings are paired with hand-marbled Hosho paper.

The series includes Blackfin Tuna, Mutton Snapper, Cooked Lobstah, Mackerel, and Muskellunge—each a one-of-a-kind original, designed, painted, and finished exclusively by CEDAR Y SAND in East Hampton, NY.