Oil on canvas, 16×12 inches
October 2020
One of my sons loves the antic life of four gold dojo loaches he added to his collection of aquariums. They gained more value during the 2020 lockdown doldrums.
The first two he named Goliath and David for their relative sizes. The third he named Lefty for its malformed right forward fin. The fourth is missing one of the barbels near its mouth, so he named it Cinco.
I was delighted to create this painting of them for his birthday at his request. Living across the country, he sent me videos and photos to help me capture their likenesses. Still, they were so active I had to invent almost everything about them.
This painting also marks my first attempt at lettering in oils on a bumpy campus. The tiny letter size required extra focus and patience. Always new skills to learn!
Click the image below for a slideshow of the painting’s development.
