Fish can make excellent subjects for paintings. The brightness and intensity of the fishes' iridescent coloration is matched only by that of birds and butterflies. These qualities make them a favorite of colorists and natural history painters. Their images appear in classical Egyptian, Greek and Roman paintings. Fish were often depicted in still-life paintings created by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters. Chinese ink brush painters featured fish in their natural surroundings for centuries. Japanese watercolorists carried on the naturalistic tradition started by Chinese fish painters.
Study fish to learn how to paint them. Visit a large aquarium to study the fish and marine life to use in the background of your fish painting. Draw quick sketches of the fish. Take photos of them for use as color notes. Look for fish in local rivers and lakes. Include some underwater plants in your studies. Use pictures from books or online photos of you don't have access to live fish.
Prepare a canvas for your fish painting. Prime it with gesso. Brush on several coats, making each layer thinner by adding more water. Sand the gesso smooth between layers in preparation for oil or acrylic painting. Use hot or cold-pressed watercolor paper when using water soluble paints. Draw the fish and its surroundings in pencil on the canvas or paper, using your reference drawings and photos as guidelines.
Put on your smock to protect your clothes from stains. Paint a fish in watercolor, taking full advantage of the transparency of the medium. Imitate the drawing and painting techniques of the classic Japanese and Chinese fish painters. Capture the character of the fish. Render it in bright, clear colors. Use transparent washes of color to block in the basic forms and add depth and texture to the background.
Thin out your acrylic or oil paints to apply it in flat washes. Build up your color scheme by overlaying graded layers of thin pure color. Let each layer dry out before overpainting it. Pay attention to the details of the fish's anatomy and try to paint it accurately. Paint in the patterns made the scales and veins in the fins. Contrast the cool blue and greenish water and sky colors with the warmer yellow, orange and red colors of the fish.
Paint in the fine details with your smallest round pointed brush. Delineate shadows around the scales and put in your finishing touches on the fish's facial features. Use touches of light color for your accented highlights. Show the light reflecting in points and sparkles off the water and the fish's scales.
