I’ve always been fascinated by the graceful rhythm of koi fish. Their patterns are so varied – the darks are brilliant against the bright oranges, yellows and reds. Four different photographs established the composition for this painting.

This is a fun exercise that shouldn’t take more than an hour or so to create. So jump right in there – maybe you’ll paint it even better than I did! Practice and perseverance is the key to success, so be sure to spend time every day drawing and painting.

The palette is limited, only using the following five DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Watercolors: Aureolin, Quinacridone Rose, Quinacridone Gold, Ultramarine Blue and Phthalo Green.

I used a #4b pencil to draw the koi and to establish a nice swirling pattern, which continuously moves the eye in a circle. Then I started applying a mixture of Aureolin and Quinacridone Rose to the first fish, alternating between yellow orange, orange, red orange and red, leaving white paper. I then introduced Ultramarine Blue, about a #5 value, and alternating the Ultramarine Blue by adding Quinacridone Rose for a violet, then a red violet.

Repeat the yellow orange, orange, red orange and red on the next three fish. I also included a little Quinacridone Gold. Be sure to leave plenty of white paper at this stage. The fifth koi is painted a little differently. I introduced Aureolin, then a mix of Aureolin/Phthalo Green which made a yellow green right into the orange mixture, then applied Quinacridone Gold.

All of the darks that are on every koi are made with a mixture of Quinacridone Rose and Phthalo Green, which makes a wonderful black. I use less water for darker mixtures and more water to pigment for lighter tones. I also introduced more Ultramarine Blue into the fish. When the Ultramarine Blue is introduced into the red orange, it produces a grayish color, which is calming to all the exciting color on the fish. I added more red mixture to the gold fish at the top as well as introducing a little black here and there.

Lastly, I pushed the blacks on the fish darker and accented the reds more. The background is painted Ultramarine Blue and sometimes I introduced Phthalo Green into the Ultramarine Blue. The blue/green water is complimentary to the orange/red koi. I used lots of pigment and water to put in the water around the fish. I don’t use frisket or masking fluid to protect the white paper, I just paint around the whites. While the background is still wet, I pulled some of the wetness of the background over the fish, losing some edges and softening their fins, pushing them under the water. I also introduced touches of red and orange/red into the water while it was wet. I like moving the orange/red of the fish into the water and the blue of the water into the fish.

The big koi to the right is the most important fish, so I left more detail and white paper on this one. I used a little bit of white gouache to accent here and there on their fins and tails.