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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Mystery Solved ... and the Koi Are Coming along Swimmingly

This was His Imperial Highness yesterday, with some hives still there on neck and saddle area.I spent about an hour , giving him a good grooming, and trimming his mane [took off at least six inches].

Here's the area on one side of the barn. Usually there are dried weeds, up to almost 3 1/2 feet high. You can see that he has mowed them right down to the ground. I believe the culprit is that weed on the lower left - called curled dock. I looked it up in noxious weeds of B.C., and though not toxic, it may cause an allergic reaction. So that's my theory, and I'm sticking to it. :) I have now fenced the area off, and will be getting a new charger for the electric fence, as the one in the barn seems dead.

With the koi, I masked here and there, and darkened all the background. Then I painted some calligraphic-type shadows in the water. 





The background is more of a violet color, like this. For the fish, I am wetting areas I want color, and then dropping in a thinner mixture, followed by a thicker one of slightly different color. Above, I am using gamboge yellow with quin. sienna. The fins and tails are thin phthalo blue, with indanthrone. I think I'll just play with the fish today, as I'd like to leave Bruno till all the hives have disappeared.


Thank you for dropping by, and I welcome your comments!
Just a quick addition on the detail work done this morning ...

11 comments:

  1. I'm betting the hives are from the curly dock.
    Loving the koi!

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  2. Glad to read you solved the problem! The koi are super!

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  3. This is going to be another one of your great paintings. The background is fantastic. As for Bruno, he's got a loving caretaker who knows her stuff.

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  4. Hope he's on the mend soon. It's too cold to get out there and pull those weeds out but I bet you have a plan as soon as it gets warm.

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  5. The Koi fishies are beautifully coming along!!! They already look happy! We hope Bruno gets better fast!
    love
    tweedles

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  6. The koi's are coming along so beautifully....WOW! Love it....and glad to hear Bruno is recouperating nicely!

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  7. The ripples in the water are really great an the koi's are swimming along beautifully ! xx

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  8. this is going to be another masterpiece. the ripples in the water give me goose bumps! i'm so sorry that Bruno had hives!!! it's heartbreaking whenever our friends have a problem. i'm so glad to hear that he's improving!

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  9. I saw your painting of Tweedles and came to look at the rest of your work. You are so talented!

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  10. Hope Bruno's hives are all resolved by now - what a mystery and I hope your theory turns out to be correct! The koi are really coming along beautifully - I am delighted by the watery ripples!

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  11. Poor Bruno!
    I hope he is all better soon :0) The Koi painting is amazing! That water is very effective - very beautifully done :0)

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