Perseverance Revisited

16 by 20 watercolor on canvas

$350.00

I painted this painting several weeks ago and hated the background, it was too colorful, too busy and didn't really show case the Koi.  Like in any play there can only be one star and the Koi have to be the star. Now, the painting is a better painting just because the background isn't competing with the foreground and the colors are cooler providing contrast and pushing the warmer color forward. 

8 by 10 Watercolor on Gessoed Masonite " Koi pals"

I had a bit of a headache last night and even though I had plenty of paintings to post I forgot to post one.  I listened to my ipod and fell asleep.   

This is one of the Koi I painted last week. Its painted on heavily textured Masonite and it gives the painting a nice effect which looks like moving water.

This morning I went down to the boat ramp with my dogs and the wind was really blowing, I gingerly stepped along the Rip Rapp of rock along the water's edge, trying not to fall into the lake. while the dogs sniffed the rocks I looked out over the water and saw a small sail boat with a brighly colored sail. I'm not much of a sailor but I do enjoy seeing the boats on the water because they have such a great profile.

Too Koi

It was so cold walking thru the woods this moring and I couldn't seem to shake it off. During my noon walk, I decided to dress a little bit warmer then my jeans and sweatshirt. First, I put on a sweater and a vest, not just any vest a fur lined vest, then a big starter Jacket. Next camet a red and white snow beanie and a 6 foot scarf. The hat was pulled all the way down to my glasses and the scarf was wrapped up around my nose. I looked a bit like a bag lady, you know the look, too too many layers. As if the person is wearing everything they own rather than carry it. It didn't help that I was walking thru a shopping center parking lot behind our neighboorhood store. Its a wonder no one pulled over and gave me their spare change.
5.75 by 5.75 watercolor on gessoed masonite 50.00

Perserverance

I call this persevaerance because I can just imagine three fish swimming upstream trying to fight the churning waters...

Orange Koi ACEO

2.5 by 3.5

"The Japanese consider it the most spirited of fish, so full of energy and power that it can fight its way up swift-running streams and cascades. Because of its strength and determination to overcome all obstacles, it stands for courage and the ability to attain high goals. The carp is an appropriate symbol to encourage the overcoming of life's difficulties leading to consequent success."

Two pieces become one... Koi tiles

Here is a look at how the pieces are coming together. I have started two more so we'll see how it goes.

If you would like to see a photo of my work station you can go to http://shantimarie.wordpress.com its my other blog. I'm really busy and posting everything to four blogs has gotten a bit difficult. Maybe next week will be better!

"Koi Tag " watercolor on Ampersand 6' by 6"

I picked up larger pieces of Ampersand (6 by 6) and thought I would try some of my Koi in the larger format.
They look very bright and the ampersand gives them a bit of texture. $50.00

They are covered with Fixative to help make them a bit more durable. They can be framed with or without glass.