This painting was not something I suggested I should do!
In 2023, I wanted to make a little painting of something simple. So I did. I created this simple Koi Fish Painting (I was so relaxed I painted it in my bed). I painted a dark green background, added lily pads, flowers, and some Koi fish. This is how it turned out! It was one of my least stressful, easiest paintings ever.
So how is this painting my most difficult painting? It is not, but this little painting was the first step to creating the most difficult painting I ever had to make.
Little did I know that this was not the last time I would be painting tiny little koi fish; I was going to do it on a GIANT Canvas Panel. My brother’s friend wanted a giant canvas of this and detailed it exactly the same.
Let me tell you, I was nervous. I did not want to mess up and fail. He wanted no updates; he wanted to be fully surprised.
So I got to it! I purchased more paints and tiny brushes. Then I realized… How do I even find a giant canvas panel?! So I did my research… and THEY WERE SO EXPENSIVE. I had no idea. Thankfully, there was a sale on Blick and it was $15 shipped (that rhymed). Great deal! So I began painting.
I tried to paint it exactly how I did the first time, except I was not anticipating making another one, so I forgot what I did. So I looked in the depths of my memory and started painting the canvas dark green, hoping I was right. I then penciled in all the lily pads, fish, swirls, flowers, dots, and all. That alone took so long, but I did not want to cut corners. I have learned that if I do not draw in what I envision, I am going to fail.
The Unknown of What it Will Look Like
After I did all the sketches, I added white to the fish and flowers and green to the lily pads.
I was already getting excited because it was coming together as planned! However, I was dreading painting all the fish white and then adding their colors, but I powered through and….
We Are Getting There!
Woo! I painted all the fish and lilypads. I was even liking the product without all the blue coloring. But because I was making this painting for someone else, I, of course, still decided to add the blue swirls and more color.
I was already at about 10 hours with this painting. Maybe even more because I lost count!
Losing hope…
Then, I started adding the blues and realized I do not like this painting!
I mean, what was I doing wrong? Was it the way that I was doing the swirls? Did I make the fish too big? Why is the blue a different color than the original?
I had so many questions, and I was sort of (dramatically) devastated that I could not replicate it.
So what did I do? I repainted some of the larger fish and redid some of the blue swirls. I had to restart to continue.
Sometimes, in Life You Need to Restart.
So that is what I did, I redid a lot of the fish and…
We were really starting to get somewhere!
The fish were more detailed; I was more precise with the coloring. I was looking at everything, so I did not make the mistake of rushing through.
I was finally feeling accomplished again and excited to get it done!
Are We Done Yet?
YES! I was finally finished; after months of sitting on the carpet floor watching 2 seasons of Desperate Housewives, I was finally done. Every swirl, flower, and fish has its own uniqueness, and I was so excited to be finished.
It was like a weight of this burden was off my shoulders!
The Theme of this Story is:
Was this painting the most difficult painting I have ever created? Yes
Would I do it again? Maybe
Would I give up and have this painting be unfinished and sitting in the corner of my room? NO
Always persevere through adversity, big or small! You will not regret it. Start over, find what is stopping you, and make something beautiful out of it.
Thank You For Reading!
(I’m smiling in this)
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