Fish Tales

I recently took part in another workshop using Powertex. We started with a large square canvas, and outlined the fish shapes. Apart from the basic shapes we could use any textures and colours we liked. This is a semi-abstract take on Siamese Fighting Fish.

First we roughly painted in the background, and next we added texture onto the fish using a little Powertex. Then followed several layers of acrylic paint.

A 5 hour workshop is quite an intense experience, and I didn't finish the detail until I got home, spending probably another hour or so on it until I was happy.

I did a little research into these fish, as I'm not well versed in fishy facts, and here is a brief description:

The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), commonly known as the betta, is a popular fish in the aquarium trade. Bettas are a member of the gourami family and are known to be highly territorial. Males in particular are prone to high levels of aggression and will attack each other if housed in the same tank. If there is no means of escape, this will usually result in the death of one or both of the fish. Female bettas can also become territorial towards each other if they are housed in too small an aquarium. It is typically not recommended to keep male and female bettas together, except temporarily for breeding purposes which should always be undertaken with caution.

Wild bettas live in shallow, freshwater areas. They prefer ponds, streams, canals and rice paddies, but they are also found in rivers. They feed upon plankton, mosquitoes and insect larvae. Bettas are known as fighting fish because two males in close proximity will fight with one another for dominance.

So, remember - don't keep your Bettas in the same tank!