This Florida bass and bluegill illustration was created by Sebastian Romo for Wildlife Forever’s annual Fish Art Contest. Drawn when he was just 13 years old, the piece showcases the style and technique he has spent years developing, a blend of precise anatomical detail, vibrant color, and expressive composition inspired his love of fishing and marine wildlife of Florida.
The illustration first earned Sebastian the Florida state title, marking his third consecutive state championship. As with all state winners, the artwork advanced to the national competition, where it received 2nd Place in his age division.
It seemed that the competition had come to an end.
Then came an unexpected announcement.
Weeks later, Sebastian learned that his illustration had been selected for the contest’s highest honor: the Best of Show award. Chosen from entries across every age division, including international submissions, Best of Show recognizes the single outstanding artwork in the entire competition, an extraordinary achievement for a young wildlife artist.
Sebastian created this drawing using graphite pencils, ink, Copic markers, and soft pastels. His technique combines precise inking with vibrant colors and expressive detail, resulting in artwork that celebrates both the beauty and biological accuracy of the species he depicts.
The time-lapse video below offers a glimpse into the creative process that went into this piece.
It is incredible to reflect that Sebastian only started sharing his artwork just three years ago, in an effort to earn money to buy a fishing rod. In those three years he has already earned multiple awards, has had his art featured on the Florida fishing license, met famous artists, and is becoming well-known in the fishing industry. It is exciting to watch Sebastian continue to forge his path as an artist, angler and outdoorsman.
We would like to thank Wildlife Forever for hosting this annual contest, which raises awareness for marine conservation and encourages kids to learn about fish through creativity. We would also like to thank FWC for supporting and promoting the contest in Florida, and encouraging students to participate through various recognition programs.
Sebastian has some exciting projects for the coming year and will be participating in the 2027 Fish Art Contest. For more information about the contest, please visit https://www.theartofconservation.org/fish-art-contest
