Brandon Finnorn — From Stethoscope to Sketchpad: painting the Gulf Coast in light and motion

Brandon Finnorn’s paintings feel like memories of sunlight on water — moments that have just passed and are already worth framing. A Gulf Coast native turned full-time artist, Brandon blends his scientific training and outdoor life into oil paintings that celebrate fisheries, wildlife, and the quiet drama of coastal light. Below I tell his story, highlight notable expos and interviews, link to his work, and explain why Brandon trusts Outex waterproof housings for the photographic source material that guides his paintings.

A quick biographical arc: medicine → illustration → oil painting

Brandon grew up along Alabama’s Gulf Coast and trained in the sciences — a path that led to medical school and a residency — before a life pivot in the late 2010s brought him to art full time. He launched Finnorn Illustrations and TheBonnieFly (his Etsy storefront) and quickly found a niche creating outdoor and fishing-inspired imagery, illustrations, and oil paintings drawn from his own field photography and memories of time on the water. His website (FinnornIllustrations.com) is the best place to see his current and past work, read his “Stethoscope to Sketchpad” origin story, and contact him for commissions.

Exhibitions, features, and press

Brandon’s work has crossed from Etsy storefronts to wider recognition in the outdoor/fly-fishing community:

• He’s been featured by Orvis in their “5 Questions” artist series and spotlighted for how his background and process guide his work.

• Local and regional outlets such as Mobile Bay Magazine have highlighted his paintings and his connection to Gulf Coast themes. 

• He’s created art for events and brands across the outdoor industry (including design work for fishing tournaments and retail partners), and maintains an active presence on Instagram under @thebonniefly where he shares works in progress, finished paintings, and studio process. (Finnorn Illustrations)

Interviews & storytelling — why his backstory matters

Brandon’s transition from medicine to art is central to his narrative and creative voice. In interviews he explains how the precision of scientific training and the patience required in medicine translate into careful observation, respect for anatomy (of fish and birds), and a disciplined studio practice. Pieces like his “Stethoscope to Sketchpad” blog post are an honest window into that transition and a great human hook for curators and collectors. 

Testimonial Video

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Where to see and buy his work

• Portfolio & shop: FinnornIllustrations.com — full portfolio, current work (original paintings), and links to prints. 

• Etsy storefront: TheBonnieFly — prints, smaller works, and commissioned pieces (shop policies recently updated).

• Social: Instagram @thebonniefly for studio reels and process videos.

Why Brandon chooses Outex waterproof housings (and why that matters for his painting accuracy)

Brandon’s paintings begin with images: field photos and short video studies he shoots on the water to capture posture, motion, and — critically — the way light sculpts subject and background. For an artist who translates photographic reference into oil, the fidelity of that reference matters in three practical ways: image quality, handling of light (dynamic range), and color/tonal accuracy.

Image quality & sensor advantages

Brandon prefers using a larger-sensor camera (housed in an Outex housing) rather than relying solely on tiny action cameras for his reference work because larger sensors generally deliver higher resolution, better signal-to-noise, and more usable detail in shadows and highlights — all of which give him richer information to translate into paint. In short: bigger sensors + interchangeable lenses = more control over depth, framing, and the kind of subtle detail painters rely on. (For background on sensor size and image quality, see B&H’s sensor primer.) 

Handling of light & dynamic range

Coastal scenes frequently include bright highlights (sun on water) and deep shadow (under a dock or the belly of a boat). Cameras with larger sensors and higher dynamic range capture that full tonal spread more faithfully, which gives Brandon a better tonal map to reference when balancing highlights and shadow in oils. Action cameras, while improving rapidly, still face inherent limitations in dynamic range and low-light performance because of their very small sensors and aggressive in-camera processing. These technical differences show up when an artist needs subtlety rather than stylized, processed footage. 

Color fidelity & accuracy for painting

Many action cameras prioritize punchy, contrasty colors optimized for shareable video straight out of the camera. Brandon needs neutral, realistic color and the ability to shoot in flat/log profiles or RAW when possible so he can judge hue and value accurately in the studio. Using a full camera in an Outex housing preserves his workflow: controlled exposure, white balance, lens selection, and raw files that retain the true information he translates into pigment.

Practical handling & durability

Outex cases let Brandon use real camera gear on boats, kayaks, and in wet field conditions while keeping full access to his camera’s controls. That means he doesn’t have to compromise lens choices or exposure technique for the sake of waterproofing. The end result is reference imagery that’s technically closer to what a studio photographer would produce — but captured in the field where the light and life are real.

Final thoughts — the artist’s practice in service of the work

Brandon’s paintings are a marriage of field observation and studio craft. His background in science gives him the discipline to document the natural world accurately; his switch to oil painting lets him interpret and amplify the emotional and visual punch of those moments. Using high-quality photographic reference — facilitated by Outex housings — is part of how he preserves fidelity to light and form so his oils feel both immediate and true.