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Danna Staaf

@dannastaaf.bsky.social

https://www.dannastaaf.com/ Author, artist, speaker with a fondness for cephalopods. Books: πŸ¦‘ Monarchs of the Sea πŸ‘©β€πŸ”¬ The Lady and the Octopus 🐣 Nursery Earth πŸ™ The Lives of Octopuses and Their Relatives Newsletter: https://buttondown.com/dannastaaf

1,896 Followers  |  222 Following  |  1,371 Posts  |  Joined: 22.06.2023  |  2.5192

Latest posts by dannastaaf.bsky.social on Bluesky


Screenshot of my "birthday cephalopods" post, in which I offered to draw cephalopods for prompts on my birthday. The words "today" and "Feb 19, 2026" are circled and pointed out with yellow arrows.

Screenshot of my "birthday cephalopods" post, in which I offered to draw cephalopods for prompts on my birthday. The words "today" and "Feb 19, 2026" are circled and pointed out with yellow arrows.

FRIENDS! No one would be happier than I if every day of the year were to be declared my birthday, but, alas, it is not so. Doodle requests sent after February 19th may or may not be drawn, as time permits. The fingers are willing, but the hours are few. ❀️

28.02.2026 05:32 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

What an honor to have a place in this rogues' gallery! Thank you for spotting me πŸ€©πŸ¦‘

27.02.2026 15:42 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm so glad! I found them so enchanting to learn about too!

27.02.2026 15:36 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you! πŸŽ‰πŸ¦‘

27.02.2026 15:19 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The best possible response really 🀣

27.02.2026 15:19 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Pen on paper drawing of a pajama squid half-buried in the sand wearing a blue-striped nightcap.

Pen on paper drawing of a pajama squid half-buried in the sand wearing a blue-striped nightcap.

Very simple and silly comic: a blue and a green octopus are elegantly spread out with their arms tips touching, saying "WE R THE BEST AT ACROYOGA." Next to them, a skeptical crab says "O YEAH TRY IT ON LAND." On the far side of the page, the two octopuses lie flabbily together under the weight of gravity.

Very simple and silly comic: a blue and a green octopus are elegantly spread out with their arms tips touching, saying "WE R THE BEST AT ACROYOGA." Next to them, a skeptical crab says "O YEAH TRY IT ON LAND." On the far side of the page, the two octopuses lie flabbily together under the weight of gravity.

Simply stylish drawing of a purple squid (a ram's horn squid, Spirula spirula, to be specific). Inside its mantle where its shell ought to be is a flashlight, shining brightly out of where its photophore is located.

Simply stylish drawing of a purple squid (a ram's horn squid, Spirula spirula, to be specific). Inside its mantle where its shell ought to be is a flashlight, shining brightly out of where its photophore is located.

Last of the birthday cephalopods! I got a few offline requests:
- pajama squid with nightcap
- two octopuses doing acroyoga
- how bioluminescence works in squid

26.02.2026 04:15 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you so much!

23.02.2026 16:56 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you!!

23.02.2026 16:55 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm sure those claws are ethically sourced

23.02.2026 16:55 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

hehehe I'm so glad

23.02.2026 16:54 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Aww thank you! Although this lovely request arrived after my birthday, I have the perfect art to recycle for it: bsky.app/profile/dann...

22.02.2026 22:00 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Simple pen on paper drawing of a brown nautilus swinging on the tentacles of a blue jellyfish.

Simple pen on paper drawing of a brown nautilus swinging on the tentacles of a blue jellyfish.

A lovely idea! (I've also done a parent and child swinging nautilus: www.zazzle.com/nautilus_swi... )

22.02.2026 21:58 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Silly simple drawing in red pen of an octopus holding crab claws in two of its arms while the other six are bent to look like crab legs. It's like a really low budget costume.

Silly simple drawing in red pen of an octopus holding crab claws in two of its arms while the other six are bent to look like crab legs. It's like a really low budget costume.

I don't know if this is what you had in mind but I'm afraid it's what happened

22.02.2026 21:42 β€” πŸ‘ 68    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 1
A silly simple pen drawing of a paper-clip-shaped ammonite with eyes like those of Clippy the office assistant. A speech bubble reads "It looks like you're evolving. Would you like help?"

A silly simple pen drawing of a paper-clip-shaped ammonite with eyes like those of Clippy the office assistant. A speech bubble reads "It looks like you're evolving. Would you like help?"

Yes yes yes

22.02.2026 00:52 β€” πŸ‘ 156    πŸ” 60    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0

@dianateuthis.bsky.social I'm really glad you saw this 😁

20.02.2026 22:23 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

🀯 wow let's pretend I had any idea what I was doing πŸ˜†

20.02.2026 20:24 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Simple pen on paper drawing of a purple and orange cuttlefish figure skating. Its eight arms are used in pairs to mimic the arms and legs of a human skater.

Simple pen on paper drawing of a purple and orange cuttlefish figure skating. Its eight arms are used in pairs to mimic the arms and legs of a human skater.

I hope you don't mind, my son convinced me a cuttlefish would be even better (maybe it's Stumpy?)

20.02.2026 19:04 β€” πŸ‘ 24    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Very silly drawing of a small red octopus pointing at a very large diagram titled HOW TO DRAW A HUMAN. Text on diagram reads "1) Rearrange eyes, beak, and siphon. 2) attach four arms to mantle. By Prof Pulpo." The diagram itself looks like a totally normal human, ok that's a lie, it's horrific.

Very silly drawing of a small red octopus pointing at a very large diagram titled HOW TO DRAW A HUMAN. Text on diagram reads "1) Rearrange eyes, beak, and siphon. 2) attach four arms to mantle. By Prof Pulpo." The diagram itself looks like a totally normal human, ok that's a lie, it's horrific.

Incredible, a joy to create

20.02.2026 18:41 β€” πŸ‘ 42    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
Simple pen drawing of a blue octopus with an orange yo-yo string tangled around most of its arms. The pink yo-yo appears to possibly be still in play so maybe this isn't a disaster.

Simple pen drawing of a blue octopus with an orange yo-yo string tangled around most of its arms. The pink yo-yo appears to possibly be still in play so maybe this isn't a disaster.

Ooo fun!!

20.02.2026 18:21 β€” πŸ‘ 35    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

actually I think this may be the best octopus I've ever drawn 😭

20.02.2026 18:09 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Simple drawing of a purple octopus emerging from the sea with huge adoring eyes to look at two tiny kittens sitting on a dock. One octopus arm is reaching up to pet one kitten's head.

Simple drawing of a purple octopus emerging from the sea with huge adoring eyes to look at two tiny kittens sitting on a dock. One octopus arm is reaching up to pet one kitten's head.

Thank you! This is an amazing prompt 😍

20.02.2026 15:46 β€” πŸ‘ 36    πŸ” 14    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2

One more hour to get doodle requests in before my birthday is locally over! I'll finish them tomorrow πŸ™πŸŽ‰

20.02.2026 06:56 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A close up of the above drawing. It is focused on the flamboyant cuttlefish egg that has been dispensed. You can see the baby cuttlefish inside, and they look slightly chubby (like a baby) and they are very cute.

A close up of the above drawing. It is focused on the flamboyant cuttlefish egg that has been dispensed. You can see the baby cuttlefish inside, and they look slightly chubby (like a baby) and they are very cute.

I would die for him

20.02.2026 00:26 β€” πŸ‘ 27    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
A very determined octopus crouches around a curling...puck? ball? unit? Gonna be real, I don't know anything about this sport, I just looked up reference photos.

A very determined octopus crouches around a curling...puck? ball? unit? Gonna be real, I don't know anything about this sport, I just looked up reference photos.

my dad suggested curling so here we are

20.02.2026 06:40 β€” πŸ‘ 60    πŸ” 19    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

πŸ₯ΊπŸ₯Ή

20.02.2026 00:29 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Drawing of a toy capsule vending machine with one of the spherical capsules rolling out of the dispenser. But all the capsules are eggs containing baby flamboyant cuttlefish! The structural parts of the machine are colored in red and black.

Drawing of a toy capsule vending machine with one of the spherical capsules rolling out of the dispenser. But all the capsules are eggs containing baby flamboyant cuttlefish! The structural parts of the machine are colored in red and black.

Drawing of a toy capsule vending machine with one of the spherical capsules rolling out of the dispenser. But all the capsules are eggs containing baby flamboyant cuttlefish!

Drawing of a toy capsule vending machine with one of the spherical capsules rolling out of the dispenser. But all the capsules are eggs containing baby flamboyant cuttlefish!

Amazing idea, I love it! Thank you! Two versions as I'm not sure which I like better.

20.02.2026 00:19 β€” πŸ‘ 28    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
Simple drawing of a green octopus fairy with faint wings emerging from behind its mantle and long antennae growing up from above its eyes.

Simple drawing of a green octopus fairy with faint wings emerging from behind its mantle and long antennae growing up from above its eyes.

Β‘Muchas gracias! QuΓ© buena idea, espero que te guste πŸ₯°

20.02.2026 00:16 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2
Simple drawing of a red cuttlefish at an office desk. Two arms are manipulating a pager, one arm is opening a drawer full of paper clips, one arm is holding a stack of papers that another arm is signing, and the other arms are in a tizzy. A nameplate reads "SEPIA."

Simple drawing of a red cuttlefish at an office desk. Two arms are manipulating a pager, one arm is opening a drawer full of paper clips, one arm is holding a stack of papers that another arm is signing, and the other arms are in a tizzy. A nameplate reads "SEPIA."

the poor thing!! this was fun 😁

19.02.2026 20:38 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Haha yes "no loose clothing, jewelry, OR APPENDAGES"

19.02.2026 19:44 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Ahhhh I'm so happy that you like it!

19.02.2026 19:44 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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