I finally made it to my Mystery Destination yesterday! Jeanette was right---it's a fish farm, a koi farm, to be exact, and the owner has the most magnificent fish I've EVER seen--all sorts of exotic Japanese fish, many of them of the highest show quality. While I was there, someone bought a fish for $1600!! In this economy!
I spent three hours sketching and took over 250 photos. The only time I've taken that many photos was at Monet's gardens in Giverny, so you can tell how besotted I was!
Here are a few sketches, all rough and exploratory---I am just beginning to get a sense of koi shapes and their way of being.
I can't wait to make paintings of the koi in their watery context. I'll mostly be using acrylic on board, but won't it be fun to experiment with Yupo paper and watercolors!
Finally, here's a photo of the kind of scene I had before me. You can see why I was so excited! Most of the fish are much larger than these, but this gives you an idea of the various colors and markings I saw.
I have posted more sketches on my blog Laurelines----go and see!
8 comments:
these are really amazing and so loose and free and just lovely
I've tried to taking the odd photo of koi before now but find it really difficult because of surface reflections. Sounds as if you've got that problem licked!
I can see how these would appeal to you - and am looking forward to seeing how paintings progress!
Ooooh lovely. Another fishy person! :)
Aren't koi amazing? I can feel your excitement over this find and well worth the trip. Your sketches are lovely, those curving shapes and bright colours. There is so many possibilities with these.
It reminds me of a painting I did years and years ago of koi, I'd almost forgotten about it til I saw these. And of course, the koi I have in my freezer from a friend's winter pond disaster.
They look beautiful grouped together like this, Laura!
Those fish are just dancing all over the page!
Great to finally see and hear about you spot Laura...lovely fluid skethes! Will be interesting to see how these fish paintings are going to progress.
ronell
These are lovely so fluid and alive - this promises to be a fantastic place for you to work :>)
Katherine try a polarising filter on your camera - it does away with the reflections.
I love your sketches and these colours are beautiful
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