Gail's Art: Rainbow Fish

Wassup everyone!

I really miss you all. I really hope I could fine some time to read blog entries of other people and curate them even though my voting power is miniscule. Haha! Seriously, I miss you all. I miss talking to the rest of STEEMITPH/ PEAKPH fam.

Anyway, let's get down to business. Aside from the fact that I need to work smart and sell a lot of painting because I have bills to pay. Huhu! I also have some parcels that would arrive soon. I ordered some art materials so that I could continue on my small business which is making art commissions.

Yes guys, I was not kidding when I said that this pandemic really did not just broke my heart but also my pockets so bad. I know I would not be able to make it in this crisis if it was not for my supportive family and friends who has helped me advertise some of my works. Right now, I have two clients. One wanted me to paint butterflies on a canvas. Although she's rich, I did not overpriced her for such commission. The other one is a friend who I used to work with from an international non-government organization.

By the way guys, if you are interested I could also make art commissions for you for a lower price. I just really need to make amends aside from spreading positive vibes to everyone around.

For now, I would like to feature you this work of mine. Tadah! I hope you like it guys.

How was this made though? I'll show you how was it done and I hope you could gain insights from an amateur artist and art teacher like me.

Materials Used:

Primed Canvas
Water color pencils
Different Colors of Acrylic of my choice
line brush for details
flat brush and round brush for the rest

The first thing I did is to draw on the canvas on the image I wanted to paint. I actually made this artwork before (made from color pencils and markers) and I wanted to remake it. I was inspired of showing to people what has kept me going with my art journey despite the unwelcoming atmosphere that the art scene in our area has given me.

This is a closer look of my work. If you could observe, I did not use a pencil but instead a water soluble or watercolor pencil.

I was just so inspired by Vincent Van Gogh. It was not because he was able to make a lot of beautiful art works out of love and other emotions, but because I somewhat felt the things he had been to -- the rejection of a loved one and others. Honestly, I somewhat felt though that I am not good enough to be called as an artist. I felt I lack a lot in all aspect. I felt so insignificant.

I also decided to draw on canvas the things that make me happy. I have always been in love with flowers that is why I included it. Water lilies make me inspired too because their colors are just so attractive. The colors are muted which allows the feeling of being whimsical is felt by their viewers. I was also inspired by this Filipino Indigent artist from the north so I tried to make one of her famous works.

When I have thought that the things that I had in my mind has been drawn, I said to myself that I should start painting already.

Since the first color that I have seen on my sets of acrylic paints is a luscious red (let us just call it that way because I forgot its name), I decided to use it to outline the different frames for my different inspirations.

So as you can see, I started painting the canvas with different colors on different areas. I know I should have focused on one area first so that I would be able to identify the colors that would go well on the other areas of my canvas. I blew it! And I have thought, this is such a big mistake Gail.

And just because I have thought that I really messed up with the face.big time, I have thought of pursuing something else for that certain area. At that moment, I felt such discomfort. I felt so bad as to how how I ended up after almost an hour of working my supposed to be masterpiece.

From this point, I have thought that I had just a lot of details that I had been working with. I have decided just to simplify my work by covering it up with black acrylic paint. And yes! I have also thought that if this would not work, I would instead cover my work with white gesso or cover it with black paint instead.

Now I came up with this! I really took some time in thinking which areas I should cover with black because I wanted to paint a colorful fish instead. I also decided to add metallic acrylic on the top right portion of my canvas so that it would be shown that there is a natural light coming on that direction

And to make my work look a little bit soft, instead of using black for outline, I repainted that portion with white paint instead.

After making this artwork of mine, I realized a lot of things. The first one is that, art has always been a form of therapy for me. Whe working, I have came to the point of assessing and reassessing myself. The second thing I have in mind is that I felt like I am that fish. I know not everyone is amazed with how fishes looks or smell. Like the fish, it only takes the right eyes to appreciate my inner and outer beauty. This is something I should look forward instead. Hence, I should be positive on what is going on around me or else I would end up in the state of confusion. I would end up tired, grumpy and distrustful to everyone around me.

I cannot speak of others because I know we all live with different lives and circumstances. But I just hope and pray that the load of problems we are carrying would be lighter or we would become stronger -- become the best version of ourselves.

Love,
Gail

^{Gaibelga or Johanna Gail H. Tongco has been writing feature articles (her hobbies in particular) online since 2012. She enjoys teaching art to children and young adults. She has served as a young leader and volunteer of different youth organizations. She is also a licensed professional teacher.

Furthermore, she took up Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, Masters in Public Administration, and Professional Education in two different universities in Cagayan de Oro City.}