Something Fishy

I don't have any commissioned pieces in the queue at the moment, so I shall entertain myself with some practice pieces.  For this piece, I shall do a simple goldfish.  As it often happens, this project started with some doodle art during a meeting at work.  I actually enjoy my job and stay fairly engaged, but sometimes the note taking turns to doodling.

Fish Doodle

The next step is to take the idea or doodle and transfer it to a grid drawing.  I decided to make the fish a little more dimensional by having him turn to fact the camera.  He is very photogenic.

Something Fishy Grid Sketch

And now with a little color.

Something Fishy Grid Sketch with Color

After I transferred the sketch to the already prepared frame, I then started gluing on the glass mosaic tiles.  I started with the fish and then added the water plants.

Fish and Plants Glued.

And then I added some dark shadows on the ground underneath the fish and the water plants.

Shadows Glued.

Then I added some pebbles and water to the fish tank.

Pebbles and Water Glued.

Time to do some grouting.  As you can tell from this photo, I am using a gray grout (33% Black, 66% White).  I also protected the frame with some masking tape.  I started doing this to make cleanup easier.

Preparing to Grout

And here is the final product.  I give you "Something Fishy".

Something Fishy Final

Here are a few interesting goldfish facts courtesy of The Goldfish Tank.

Goldfish Fact #1: Goldfish don’t have stomachs!

Goldfish don’t have stomachs and should therefore be fed easily digestible food in lots of small feeding sessions, rather than lots of food at once. This is also why goldfish produce so much waste and why you need a filter to keep their water clean.

Goldfish Fact #2: Goldfish have been known to live for over 40 years!

This goldfish was said to be 45 years old.

Goldfish Fact #3: The collective noun for goldfish is “a troubling”

Just like you’d say “a herd of cows”, you’d say “a troubling of goldfish”!

Goldfish Fact #4: Goldfish can recognise people’s faces

Goldfish can tell different faces apart and are able to distinguish between different shapes, colors and sounds.

Goldfish Fact #5: Goldfish have a memory-span of at least three months

Many people say that goldfish have a memory of just a few seconds, but this is a myth! Goldfish have a memory span of at least three months!

Goldfish Fact #6: Goldfish can grow to over a foot long

Goldfish can be stunted by being kept in tanks that are too small for them and where the water quality is poor. This means that they don’t reach their full potential size. However, goldfish can grow to be over a foot long when kept in the right environment. Check out this massive goldfish!

Goldfish Fact #7: Selective breeding has led to a huge variety of goldfish shapes and colours

Humans have bred many different varieties of goldfish.

Goldfish Fact #8: Goldfish can’t close their eyes!

Goldfish have no eyelids, so they have to sleep with their eyes open!

Goldfish Fact #9: Goldfish have been kept as pets for over 2000 years

Keeping pet goldfish dates all the way back to ancient China!

Goldfish Fact #10: Goldfish can see more colors than humans can!

Goldfish don’t like to be kept in the dark and, unlike humans, they are able to see ultra-violet and infra-red light.