On the Spur of the Moment. On impulse. Spontaneous. Without planning or premeditation.
It was certainly on the spur of the moment that I chose to paint this seemingly ordinary garden pond. I bought it many years ago for the house we used to rent. The kids were very young then. I also bought a small motor pump to drive water to the taller structure and recreate a mini waterfall. The kids loved the small koi fish I put in the concrete tub and would stare at the brightly colored fish for almost the whole afternoon. They enjoyed feeding the fish and watching them move around the water plants.
On the Spur of the Moment. On impulse. Spontaneous. Without planning or premeditation.
It was certainly on the spur of the moment that I chose to paint this seemingly ordinary garden pond. I bought it many years ago for the house we used to rent. The kids were very young then. I also bought a small motor pump to drive water to the taller structure and recreate a mini waterfall. The kids loved the small koi fish I put in the concrete tub and would stare at the brightly colored fish for almost the whole afternoon. They enjoyed feeding the fish and watching them move around the water plants.
Eventually, I had to give up buying koi fish because of the stray cats that kept preying on them. When we moved to our new home, I had this pocket pond mounted at our backyard and filled it with several kinds of water plants.
Eventually, I had to give up buying koi fish because of the stray cats that kept preying on them. When we moved to our new home, I had this pocket pond mounted at our backyard and filled it with several kinds of water plants.
It was probably this memory of my children and their innocent child-like wonder with the koi and the mini waterfall that moved me to paint this subject at the beginning of the Holy Week break.
I first made a monochromatic sketch using dip pen and brushes on Japanese ink. I liked how the big round leaves of the water plant with their curving veins glistened against the water that reflected the dark background.
It was probably this memory of my children and their innocent child-like wonder with the koi and the mini waterfall that moved me to paint this subject at the beginning of the Holy Week break.
I first made a monochromatic sketch using a dip pen and brushes on Japanese ink. I liked how the big round leaves of the water plant with their curving veins glistened against the water that reflected the dark background.
Not content with the ink sketch, I painted a watercolor of the same subject the next morning. I was painting the plants and the concrete structure the same way I had tackled the dip pen, brush and Japanese ink sketch until later in the morning, the near noon light hit the taller basin and cast strong shadows of leaves on it. This caught my attention enough to change the course of the painting. I felt the impulse to make these shadows and this portion of the painting the focal point. The pleasant surprises of plein air painting!
Not content with the ink sketch, I painted a watercolor of the same subject the next morning.
I was painting the plants and the concrete structure the same way I had tackled the dip pen, brush and Japanese ink sketch until later in the morning the near noon light hit the taller basin and cast strong shadows of some leaves on it. This caught my attention enough to change the course of the painting. I felt the impulse to make these shadows and this portion of the painting the focal point. The pleasant surprises of plein air painting!
Whether I am preparing for an exhibit, working on a series of paintings, or doing commissioned work, I will make sure to leave enough time and space for paintings done at the spur of the moment. There is a special joy in that random, spontaneous, playful impulse to paint anything that suddenly captures my attention. In this painting, it is recalling the joyful memory of my children in their childhood innocence and their sense of wonder.
Whether I am preparing for an exhibit, working on a series of paintings, or doing commissioned work, I will make sure to leave enough time and space for paintings done at the spur of the moment. There is a special joy in that random, spontaneous, playful impulse to paint anything that suddenly captures my attention. In this painting, it is recalling the joyful memory of my children in their childhood innocence and their sense of wonder.
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Congratulations on your new and exciting venture Gejo!
Thank you very much, Dra. Cherrie!
Wow, Gejo! Great work, this blog. I particularly like knowing the stories behind the artworks as it humanizes the piece. Keep it going. As they say, content is king – I doubt you will lack for it any time soon.
Thank you very much Chef Paul. Indeed , that is one of the reasons for this web-site/blog. I also hope the paintings, sketches, and the posts remind readers of people, places, events, even objects dear to them, however directly or indirectly. Cheers!