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| Under the Deep Blue Sea oil and wax on paper 9x12 |
My husband walked into my studio and said - "It smells different in here". He's right, the smell of hot wax is absent and the smell of oil paint has taken over. I'm finding myself drawn to painting with this new medium more and more. I'm less inclined to be warming up the encaustic wax, yet I still do. I'm finding being a beginner is fun and at every turn there is something new. I'm also finding abstract difficult, so I had to take a little break from it and paint something more tangible - i.e. fish.
I've been wondering why I've been so compelled to paint fish lately and specifically ocean perch. Other than they are fun for me because I love the texture and color. Yet, I was still pondering the connection and why. Then it came to me - I have very fond childhood memories of surf fishing with my Dad. It was one of the perks of growing up at the beach on the pacific coast and being able to live off the bounty of the ocean. We would spend many a summer day, wading out into the waves and throwing in a line. The catch of the day was usually ocean perch as they were plentiful and really loved our bait of razor clams. It was such a thrill to feel that tug on the line and reel in a silver flapping fish to bring home for dinner. This is my connection, and I have to say it makes me smile every time I look at my fish paintings. Do you find fond childhood memories that come through in your art?
Also, I'm starting and Inspiration Today post on Tuesdays. I'm sharing what's in progress in the studio and what I am finding inspiring. The first of the series was this past Tuesday.
Happy Friday!
The texture works so well at capturing the fish scales and luminosity -- beautiful style!
ReplyDeleteGosh, I love your work.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet memory with your dad!!
Last year I painted many fish, they are simply so cool, you cannot resist, although I have never gone fishing lol
ReplyDeleteIn my case my childhood memories include lizards and yes, I have also painted a bunch of them now that I think about it :oD
Awesome art, like always! ♥
gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work, happy PPF, Valerie
ReplyDeleteWhat a great correlation between your art and your childhood! Never thought of that before!! Gives me lots to ponder!! Wonderful fish, lovely colour and texture!...I could see these hung in dens all over the country!!
ReplyDeleteHugs Giggles
I love this! I have been drawing fish too recently, the wax makes a super medium for the subject.
ReplyDeleteI love the fish paintings (not so much the catching them part, sorry!) and I do hope you don't stop doing encaustic paintings as I had never seen them before I met you and I do love the texture. I don't think there is anything from my childhood that I bring to my art these days but you've given me pause for thought and I'll need to have a think and see if perhaps there is after all!
ReplyDeleteI love the fish. You've really caught the "fishiness". Your fish don't look perfect. I think if you had any issues using the new media painting them you figured out how to fix them. Happy Spring.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous fish, great paintings. Most of my paintings are based on memories, so I understand so well what you mean by memory connection. Have a lovely and creative week.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous fish painting! Love the connection you made. I don't think any of my art comes from childhood memories-most of it is inspired by nature; and words-poetry, quotes; music and movies. I so want to try cold wax and oil paint and I just might do that sooner rather than later:)
ReplyDeleteYour fish are amazing Marjik. Love the look. As for connections to childhood memories, hmmm....I'm thinking on it. Great job.
ReplyDeleteYour fish looks alive, Marji. I have so many fish paintings in my house! I didn't do them. They are watercolors of various trout by Michael Simon, who has an exhibit in West Yellowstone. He was a fellow fisher and friend of my dh. I am a flyfisher but haven't been on the water since dh's passing.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love your fish, especially with that texture. Just really beautiful. And your description of fishing with your dad. xoxo Silke
ReplyDeleteThanks for the memories! I too fished with my dad in a lake in Minnesota, crappies and sunfish and some lake perch. Beautiful artwork, BTW.
ReplyDeleteI totally enjoyed your fish story! The art is fantastic too! Hppf!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Love your pallette. Not surprizingly, the animals are my fond memories reproduced in art... we went to a game reserve to camp every winter (because the temperature was just nice and comfortable in winter but unbearably hot and malaria-mosquito alley in summer!) The foliage was also less in winter which made our chances of actually spotting the animals in the wild greater than in summer.
ReplyDeleteI love the way the wax and oil work together to create depth and texture in your fish! There scales are simply radiant! Beautifully done :)
ReplyDeleteThe depth of your painting is fantastic. It calls out, I have a story...and in this case, I am glad to hear your childhood memory and connection to your painting. I find it fascinating what emerges when I paint or write. I always say that my art tells me what I don't know.
ReplyDeleteHi Marji, I love your work. I think fish are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love fish because they are the only pets I can have since a grandchild and good friends who are allergic to my other love which is cats. I have had fish ponds with koi, catfish and shebunkin. Since I now am living smaller, I only have George II my beta fish! Have a great week.
The more I look at these fish, the more I love them!
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