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ShawnCoss — Koi Fish
Published: 2008-02-10 02:10:25 +0000 UTC; Views: 19161; Favourites: 336; Downloads: 16
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Description
One of many new paintings I have planned for an upcoming March 22nd art show. If you live near Cleveland, maybe I'll see ya there
A little background on our new fish buddy...
"According to Japanese legend if a koi succeeded in climbing the falls at a point called Dragon Gate on the Yellow River it would be transformed into a dragon. Based on that legend, it became a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement.
More generally, the Japanese associate koi (also known as carp) with perserverance in adversity and strength of purpose. Because of its strength and determination to overcome obstacles, it stands for courage and the ability to attain high goals.
Others say it means good fortune or luck.
The Koi Fish is symbolic in the Buddhist Religion, representing courage. Humans 'swim' through the 'ocean of suffering' without fear, just like a fish swims through water.
The Koi is symbolic with family. On Childrens Day Koi flags are raised, Black Koi the father, Orange/Red mother, Blue/White for a boy, red/pink for a girl.
"There is another word to describe "love" which is "koi". The kanji character for "kokoro (heart)" is included as part of both kanji characters. Both "ai" and "koi" are probably translated as "love" in English. However, they have slightly different nuance: "Koi" is a love for the opposite sex, or a longing feeling for a specific person. It can be described as "romantic love" or "passionate love". While "ai" has the same meaning as "koi," it also has a definition of a general feeling of love. "Koi" can be selfish, but "ai" is a real love. Here are some lines that explain them well: Koi is always wanting. Ai is always giving."
A koi tattoo is supposed to represent different things it just depends on the color and the amount of them and the direction they are swimming in the stream. 5 golden koi is supposed to represent eternal wealth and well being."
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Comments: 51
I really love this painting. I like how you did the shades of the head and as the orange colour gets lighter down to it's tail. I also loved reading the legend of the Koi fish that you added in the discription, it was very interesting to read. ^^
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May I ask what size canvas this was done on? I love the piece and how you vary your styles.
--
We are not, we have never been, and we will never be forgotten.
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i wanna say it was a 8 in x 16 or 18
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ok thanks. I'm doing that I thought would look good on that size canvas. Thanks.
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Hey great work dude! I absolutely love it! Colors work out very well. I made a piece sorta similar to this one, I used your fish as a reference. Give it a look and let me know what you think:
[link]
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i LOVE this and picture how did you colour the head of the fish so red?
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Thank you so much for the kind words. The red part of the fish was completely unintentional. It was actually a deep orange but the camera I took it with kind of darkened the final image.
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cool
what does unintentional mean?
btw what type of camera are you using?
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Unintentional as in I didn't plan it lol. The original piece was around 9 in wide by I think 18 in tall. But I'm not sure as I no longer possess the piece anymore.
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I sell prints, sketches, and the original paintings if I have them still. I tend to sell them on my own rather through dA because of the upcharge they tend to put on it.
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does on my own mean through the internet or in a shop or something
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I mean that I personally will ship out prints from my home. So that the customer will get the best possible price. Of course it also depends if you live in the states or not.
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what state do u live in?
i am australia
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I live in Ohio. It may be cheaper for you to purchase it through dA, because I think the international shipping would be outrageous
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wait so can u show me some of ur artwork tht u r selling?
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Well everything on here can be purchased in the prints section.
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Who doesn't love Koi fish, haha
Looks Awesome btw...
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Omg. You mean koi and carp are the same fish?
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Lol, you didn't know? Or is that sarcasm I taste?
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Seriously I didn't know.
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Wow thanks for the art, and corresponding history lesson!
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I like how you used a Japanese concept but the stylization of the Koi is completely your own. Great work.
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this is so amazing so beautiful and i love it you have such an amazing hand and eye
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wow.. great Japanese legend..and your piece is amazingly showing it
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wow beautiful... personally i love koi... so how is the is the popularity channeling down ever since the Kris wilson journal? (no offense..)
love your art.
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No offense taken, Kris helped me out with exposure and I'm grateful. But I'm not one to worry whether or not anyone looks at my art as I do not create for the pleasure of others but rather to fullfill my own relentless desires and passion. Thanks for the kind words as well.
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ooh... well again it is very beautiful.
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Wow. There's a lot of depth behind this piece. I love the research you've done on the Koi Fish.
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Beautiful 
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Why yes lol Maybe I should have posted where it was inspired by....so everyone look at that link !
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very nice work! i love the edgy lines in this :3
yumyum
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I love the orange on the tail...But you know recently my aunt did this drawing of a hen for an exhibition, it was kind of like she was jumping up and her eggs were falling and breaking. It was sooo cool, you can't even imagine, the background was nearly entirely black, and she had the eggs falling and she did the whites so well...and it was effing HUGE, dunno HOW she did it!
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Breath-taking image again! You should do animals more often (I still want to see Fry
I never knew the koi had all of that symbolism tied to them. Very interesting.
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This is incredible.
I love the style and the depiction.
And the fact that I love koi and Japanese culture makes this a hundred times better.
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i love the tail and fins, although the the whole image is fantastic.
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Wow...
I really love the stylised approach! It looks amazing, as always.
Nice work dude.
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