"Follow Me" is finished finally!

This is the finished result of pouring, masking, pouring , masking over and over and over.  This process reminds me of batik - only on paper.  Once I have removed all the mask, I go back in and crisp up the details and intensify the colors as required.

Painting of our Koi - "Circus"

I have decided I really like working water soluble oil paint. I am not as icky picky with details, mainly because I really have not figured out how to yet. (humour) But what I really like is the freedom I feel when I use it.  Having fun. 


I love the movement of the fish - they way they circle around when they think I am offering food.  The water moves creating variations in the reflections and are perfect for painting.  We find antics of the fish  mesmerizing. I often find myself watching them from a deck chair for long periods of time while enjoying the sun.  I called this painting "Circus" as these guys are so entertaining and so brightly colored.


These are some of our koi that live in our backyard pond. Actually I have painted one fish Hoover in this painting three times.  

This one is 24 x 24 - I think the next one will be mush larger!.

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras - this painting was pure fun to work on - well...for the most part.  I recently purchased some water soluble oils and decided to try them out.  I had forgotten how long oils take to dry - and yes, this is the case with this type as well.  So, I painted for a few hours - waited a few days, paint again wait again, you get the picture. This went on for quite awhile.  Then one day as I was studying the piece - I realized it was close to finished!

And so today I worked on it for about four hours and I think it is finally finished.

In this painting is Hoover, Nemo,Comet, Guilda, Goldie, Marilyn and Dot....our pet goldfish and koi. I continue to be fascinated by the fish and love to paint them. The next painting they are swimming in the pond - a whole different perspective. Oh - and it will not be in water soluble oils - this media is too frustrating to work with.

Feeding Time Yet?

This painting was an experiment with some of the new tools available for watercolors. I admit I am a watercolor purist - and so this was also an exercise in bravery. I purchased a number of clayboard panels while visiting my daughter in Vancouver last year.
It has taken me exactly a year to decide to experiment with them.
The texture of the clayboard is quite different from paper - at first I was unsure if I liked it or not. After painting for a few minute - i started to get the feel for the material - bottom line. If you have time to play, this is a fun product. I sealed the finished painting with three coats of Krylon spray varnish. I have not decided yet if I am going to apply Golden Polymer Varnish over top or not. I know it will owrk well as I used it on teh Eastern Tiger Swallowtail in my last blog.
These goldfish and Koi are family pets - they summer in our pond and winter in a large aquarium in our basement.