Butterflies, Birds & Wildlife · horizontal

Ember in the Blue, Koi Seen from Above

A orange, white and black koi swims near the surface of a deep blue pond, seen from above, with its fins trailing behind it. Small bubbles float above the fish, and green and brown reflections ripple across the water. The whole image has a textured, brushstroke-like surface.

A single koi seen from above, glowing orange-red with black and white patches against deep blue water, is a simple subject you can take in at once. Most koi pictures show a crowd of fish or a garden setting. This one is one fish, one direction and a few bubbles, with the head near the right edge so it seems to be leaving the frame. The same swirling, brushstroke-like marks build the scales, the ripples and the reflections, so fish and water feel like one surface. The orange against blue is a strong complementary pairing that holds a wall.

Artwork by Omaste Witkowski