His prodigious paintings of whales and his books about sharks, giant squid and tuna were acclaimed for melding science with art. His prodigious paintings of whales and his books about sharks, giant squid and tuna were acclaimed for melding science with art. Ellis, Richard (1938-2024), Deaths (Obituaries), Oceans and Seas, Whales and Whaling, American Museum of Natural History, Art, Museums NYT > Science