Question I need a hand with painting tropical fish. What advice can you give? Nest Of Vipers, Wales
Answer
Viktoria replies
My most important tip is to sit down and gather some references of tropical fish. Many of the tropical fish that we know of live on the world’s coral reefs, so Googling “The Great Barrier Reef”, for example, should be sufficient to get you started on gathering inspirational material.
You’ll notice from the photos that many tropical fish are, of course, colourful. My second tip is therefore to have your fish swimming in fairly bright, happy colours.
Tropical fish often feature diverse patterns across their bodies, which you can use as inspiration to create some cool fantasy patterns of your own. In addition, keep in mind the often flat, leaf-shaped bodies of the fish. Using that shape in your design would make the fish look like they belong in more tropical waters.
My third and final tip for you is not to make your fish design overly complicated. To make something fantasy doesn’t mean you have to go insane with the design and create something so abstract no one but you understands it.
It’s always a good idea to base your fantasy design in reality – especially with animals – and then throw in a mix of elements that your viewer might not have expected to see. As an example, why not give your fish wings? Or a unicorn horn? Or make it a fairy fish? Or just about anything else that tickles your imagination. Digital painting enables you to try out all these possibilities, and more!