I want to share a new koi fish painting I started and finished yesterday. It’s titled “Harlequin Dance”. Here is the finished painting and the progression shots I took while working on it.

UPDATE: This painting has sold. Prints are currently available HERE.

I started out intending on painting the crow and the reflection painting that I shared on this post. But I discovered I didn’t have my canvas primed and that takes a while to dry. I’ve been wanting to paint koi fish, so I grabbed a square board that was primed and ready and quickly sketched a design. I have to say this painting practically painted itself. I love to paint flowing, swishy things and these fins were fulfilling that want. I exaggerated the fins and scales, but that’s what being an artist is all about – having that “Artistic License”. I use mine quite frequently.

sketch

painting the base coat

a little detail showing up

nearly finished

The scales on the koi fish remind me of the diamond pattern on Harlequins, so that was the inspiration for their title and markings. The white one reminds me a bit of a tribal tattoo, what do you think?

You’re not able to see it from these photos, but this koi fish painting has a pearlescent finish on the fins. I love a touch to sparkle and just adding this small touch really added a depth to this painting.

Varnished, signed and ready for a new home

I so enjoyed painting these koi fish that I have all sorts of new ideas for more paintings with them. I do have a couple other items with koi fish on them… a terra cotta pot I painted and a hand embellished mono prints I carved

4″ terra cotta pot

mono print

my koi fish pond

Learn more about me on the ‘About’ page in the menu at the top. I’m an artist – a painter mostly and an avid gardener. I paint a variety of subjects including birds, koi fish, my gardens, ponds and flowers as well as anything having to do with nature especially trees and tropical scenes. I also enjoy painting abstracts and have started created more and more of them. My most favorite thing to try to achieve in my painting is is mystery.

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