TRIO OF GAME FISH

Original Watercolor Art Pieces by Rickie Griffin

The greater body of my work consists of birds from the Pacific Northwest. This triptych of fish is the first belonging to the class Osteichthyes that I’ve had the pleasure to paint. I’ve selected these particular three for their color, texture, shape, and wide spread interest among angling enthusiasts.

When beginning to gather references for study, I gravitated towards emphasizing the distinctive textural difference between varieties - The coarse distinctive scales of the bass, the nuanced shifting tones of the trout, and the subtle crosshatched texture of the salmon.

With watercolor paintings I begin by building up small strokes to create a mottled yet detailed illustration, and finish by framing the subject with translucent layers of billowed color. Throughout these pieces I felt that fish translate well in my painting style, as it helps to emphasize the tone and patterns unique to each genus.