Does it seem like they’re looking at you?

In the midst of my koi paintings, I find it intriguing to reflect back on all kinds of other paintings or drawings I’ve done of fish.  I seem to have a real fetish going.  This drawing was one I made a very long time ago, long before I knew that fish would be a staple of my artistic diet.  I can remember vividly that I purchased the fish at the store, and I set them up outside in the open air.  I had colored the paper by hand in advance using ground up pastel mixed with diluted Elmer’s glue which I brushed over the paper and let to dry, and I made the drawing using pencil, Chinese ink and touches of watercolor.

Needless to say while they were fresh for drawing; after the session they were not so fresh for eating.  But they are immortalized here.  Does it seem like they’re looking at you?  It sure seemed like they were looking at me, somewhat accusingly at that.

[Top of the post:  Drawing of two fish, by Aletha Kuschan, graphite, ink and watercolor]

Having Fun …

Sometimes an artist just wants to have fun.  Don’t even ask me what this is.  (But it was a lot of fun.)

Drawing is arduous work

Drawing can be arduous, taxing work so I like it whenever the subject matter is willing to help me out.  Here, an obliging little frog is getting ready to jump right into the picture.

[Top of the post:  Upclose view of my work station]

Searching

In my continual quest for the perfect fish, I consult the masters.  This little guy jumped out of Hokusai’s pond.  Or was it Hiroshige’s (is there an art historian in the house?) — well, out of the pond of one of those great old Japanese guys.  The old master was playing some scales.  Obviously he loved this fish’s scales — those beautiful scales rendered into refined patterns.

[Top of the post:  Leaping fish, after a Japanese master, by Aletha Kuschan, colored pencil]

Wishing you flowers

I’m doing something today that I don’t often do — I’m chilling out!  And wishing you flowers on this lovely Sunday afternoon.