Original artwork description:

This small painting is a decorative depiction of a japanese carp from above. It is painted on a gessoed oak panel, using pigements hand-ground in egg yolk tempera. The gesso has been gilded beneath the carp, which has then been painted and scratched through, using the method known as 'sgraffito', to reveal the golden scales beneath. This technique gives added vibrancy to the colours of the carp and also allows the scales to glitter as if seen through the surface of the water, as they catch the sun.

The picture was made after a dream family trip to Japan was cancelled due to covid. It was only after making my carp pictures that I realised that Japan must have been very present in my subconscious, as I saw an oriental style mingling with my more usual references to medieval European art.

The painting has a plain oak border and can be displayed either unframed or framed. It can form a pair with 'Carp 1' but can also stand alone. It is signed on the reverse and has a d-ring attached so that it is ready to hang.

Materials used:

Oak panel, gesso, bole, gold leaf, pigments, egg yolk tempera

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