Friday, September 17, 2010

Courage to Transform

Koi watercolor on Yupo 11"x14
I have been wanting to paint Koi for years.  I find myself watching them for hours whenever I see them in a pond and admire their shape and colors! I also have way too many photographs of them :)  It was a lot of fun to paint the koi because the Yupo paper easily duplicates their bright colors. Surprisingly this time, I found myself working hard to tone down some of the texture in water in the composition so it won't compete so much with  colorful koi yet would show movement.  I think I need to work on couple of paintings at a time when painting on yupo -that will give each piece time for the paint to dry before I put the next layer!  There is a shine to the paper, and I find the photographs do not do justice to bright colors! 

As I was researching information about Koi in between painting them I found myself torn between really keeping to a particular fish's colorations and markings or mix them up(-which is my usual way of painting). For Koi collectors and breeders the markings and color are extremely important.  The Koi carry a lot of significance for the Japanese and Chinese representing passionate love, courage, strength, friendship and wealth. According to  a legend of those countries, if a koi fish succeeded in climbing the falls at the point of Dragon Gate in the Yellow River  then they are transformed to dragons, signifying overcoming life's difficulties. According to Buddhists, the koi represent a person courageously swimming through 'ocean of suffering.' 

Its a bit too late too adhere to realism in markings and color but I love the symbolism behind the fish :) 

19 comments:

Heera said...

I love your koi on yupo. You have captured their little dance so well.

Meera Rao said...

thank you :) I am happy the dance is noticeable !!!

Kathy Staicer said...

Great colors, great movement, great painting!

Crystal Cook said...

I think it's beautiful! I love the vivid colors and how fluid the water looks :)

AK said...

This is a lovely work and you have chosen the right kind of paper for this. The textures and effects are really amazing.

Meera Rao said...

Thanks kathy -- but you know you have some awesome koi paintings too :)

Meera Rao said...

Crystal, Thank you :) - transparent watercolors and yupo make a wonderful combination!

Meera Rao said...

AK, Thanks :) Yupo is teaching me patience !

Anonymous said...

WOW!! Meera, beautiful painting!! :)

Meera Rao said...

@anonymous - thank you for taking the time with such an encouraging comment. Wish I knew who you are --but I really appreciate your words!

padmaja said...

Yupo is ideal for this subject and you caught them actually swimming all over..I believe in what they stand for..

Meera Rao said...

Padmaja, thank you :) Koi stories are as varied and fascinating as their colration and markings!

Anonymous said...

Hi Meera... The above anonymous comment was from me. I was too lazy to login and forgot to identify myself :D
Nirmala

Meera Rao said...

thanks Nirmala - I really appreciate all visits and comments :)

Hema Penmetsa said...

Wow, Meera, your paintings are as eloquent and fluid as any writing involving beautiful words. Thanks for thinking about sharing not only your art, but the interesting tidbits about your subject at hand, and your method of painting!

Unknown said...

This one is beautifulll and dynamic. So is your comment on Koi.
As afterthought, on ordinary paper Kois might have looked equally good. May be I am wrong, but request you to show to us the comparison.

Meera Rao said...

Thanks Hema, I really value visits and inputs from fellow artists - and very grateful to have a platform for my indulgences :)

@Rajeev, thank you! Koi on different papers- that sounds like a fun idea -let me see what and how I want to experiment...

Thaikaden said...

Beautiful work.

Meera Rao said...

@Thaikaden, Thank you!

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