Koi, the Lotus and some Knife Action

So my neighbour used to have the most wonderful Koi pond in her garden with waterfalls, beautiful lilies and of course some magical fish. my bedroom overlooked it and I remember spending hours getting lost in that pond until one day they decided to fill it in with concrete. I still feel the trauma. I think I am reliving those tranquil moments with my Koi Pond series, each one gives me a real sense of calm and they are wonderful to paint. I primarily use a palette knife to build layers and dimension, it creates a broken colour effect not possible with a brush, loosening the style and emphasising the physicality of the paint.

The traditional symbolism of the Koi and the Lotus flower are associated with spirituality and strength, the Koi are said to be the only fish able to conquer waterfalls of the Hukou Yellow River in China. The joining of these two elements representing prosperity, good fortune and power as well as optimism and growth. As well as physically being my go to for some respite therapy, I feel emotionally connected to these little paintings.