A Tale of Two Fish

/ Jodi

Hogfish Watercolor 16×20 #1

A Tale of Two Fish.

A friend recently asked me
to paint a fish for her fiance.

A Hogfish it was.
Lachnolaimus Maximus.

A fish caught
on a recent vacation.

She wanted it big…
Big by my painting standards.

The biggest I’ve painted to date is 11×14.
My friend wanted this hogfish painting to be about 16×20.

So I gave it
a whirl.

My first painting is above.
I never dreamed I would share it…

It was
a first attempt…

A lesson in what I wanted to do,
and what I didn’t want to do.

Here’s the actual Hogfish caught

So I tried
again.

I painted it less realistically.
More impressionistically.

A little more subtle.
A little more artistic license….

Impressionistic Hogfish 14×22 #2

I liked my second go
better….

but I still
wasn’t sure

about this large
Hogfish painting.

I showed Hubby my second painting
to get his thoughts.

He liked it.

Then I showed him my first go –
laughing a bit.

I explained
this was how I started.

His mouth dropped open.
He loved it….

What???

The point I was trying to make
was look how much better it got…

He insisted I share both with my friend,
and let her pick.

So I did.

My faithful friend
agreed with me.

She liked the second one better.
A bit more subdued.

But she decided to let
her fiance choose.

So she showed
him both.

And he chose…
the first.

Just like
Hubby.

So…
they are getting them both!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

60 thoughts on “A Tale of Two Fish”

  2. Hey Jodi, For what it’s worth….I actually like the first one better than the second, even though both are great. Maybe it’s a guy thing in choosing # 1 (like your hubby and the husband of your friend). The more dramatic and brighter the better in my opinion. It adds a sense of drama and helps you to visualize the fisherman trying to real in this huge fish. Since you are attempting to paint fish, I am going to send you a text of a large one just caught a few weeks ago by my brother while in Mexico. You don’t need to paint it, but if you decide to try your attempt at doing another fish painting, this one would be a great template…. Have a great day! Gary

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  4. I, like you and your friend Jodi, prefer the second one – the more impressionistic version. But at the end of the day beauty is in the eye of the beholder – different things appeal to different people. Both versions are very good Jodi….

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    • It is so funny how people have differing and often very strong opinions. In the end, the recipients were very happy, so that is what matters most. I’m not very thrilled with either – but then it is not my favorite kind of painting either. Now I’d like to taste hogfish – lol – they say it is really good. 🙂

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  5. I like the boldness of the first one best–it captures the personality of the fish.
    The second one is a wonderful painting, but too gentle I think to be a portrait of the fish in the photo. So I agree with the guys here.(K)

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  6. There are people who want photographic like details, and there are those like artists impressions. A good compromise is often acceptable to both perspectives. You 2nd painting appealed more to me in terms of overall impact as a painting however, to please the “detail people” it missed out in a key area. Your original painting, and the photograph, clearly show 3 large protrudences/tendrils (correct term not known) on the top and back from the eyes. For reasons only known to you, your 2nd painting increased that to 4… which takes away from calling it a Hogfish.

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    • LOL – I didn’t even realize I increased to four – though hogfish do have varying numbers of those “things” – so it is still a hogfish 🙂 – I think the second also more resembles a female hogfish – their details are more subtle – kinda like birds – but anyway – realistic is not my gig – and I am not really happy with either of these, but the recipients were super happy, so that is what matters – got tight hugs and thanks and smiles and they each got just want that wanted – LOL! Doubt I’ll be painting any more hogfish 🙂 Though I would like to try eating it – hear its great!

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  9. I had never seen a hogfish before, and wow, what an interesting-looking fish! I’d go with the first one too only in that you could definitely identify it as a hogfish (now that I know what one looks like). Either way, both are great!

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  11. I like both, but actually like the first one better. I guess I go for brighter lol. Also, I much prefer either version to the fish. They aren’t my thing, probably b/c I have seafood sensitivities borderline allergies. But as always I love your painting 🙂

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    • It is bright and fun – and definitely growing on me now – LOL! so hard to be a critic of your own work. Sorry you have sensitivity to fish – so many good tasting ones! Thanks for your sweet comment and support!

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      • Always. I love art and painting of every kind. Yours are so good too 🙂 Don’t be sorry about my allergy lol, if it always makes you sick or throw up you never know what or if you’re missing something. It smells bad to you and it’s something you glad live without. But that means more seafood for those who enjoy it 🙂 It’s not much different than people who don’t like mushrooms. I think they’re divine but others don’t like the texture or the taste, even thought they don’t have a strong taste. That’s what I think, anyways 🙂 Have a great rest of the week!

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      • Ha ha, that’s so funny, I chose that one, then. I have a brother who can’t stand them either and a best friend too. Another common one I’ve found is pineapples, which are just delicious, but some people can’t stand them. I think chocolate can be the most shocking one, I haven’t come across women who don’t like it, but I’ve met 2 or 3 guys who don’t appreciate it all.
        Tried your cup cakes today and they were perfect until I screwed up the icing, not enough icing sugar at home. I’ll have to retry them when we get some more. Usually their icing is the easiest lol. I liked the Apple core method to put the fruit in the centre of the cupcake, I always wondered how that worked. Thanks again for a tasty recipe 🙂

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    • I’m really glad so many like! It’s so hard to “judge” your own work. Art is so subjective. I guess that is the beauty of it. Often I love something and it gets little reaction – when I’m not a fan of – it is liked – you just never know – so we must just follow our heart 🙂

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  13. I often paint something and think it isn’t very good and then I post it and people love it! Go figure! Lol! 🤣 I actually like the first one best as I like it’s personality! Yet, both are “swimmingly” FINtastic, Jodi!! 🎨👍
    P.S. Would love to hear more on how to paint on such a large piece of watercolor paper! 😮

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  17. Too funny. I too liked the first one best, possibly because of the stronger color. But what caught my eye after color was the wacky look on his face and in his eye. What suprised me more, was when you shared the real fish. You captured that cartoon wacky face perfectly! I had never seen a hogfish. Loved your background on First fish better too, probably because the fish was more real. Nice job on the 2 nd one as well, had you shown that one first I probably would have oogled it more. But the winner came out when you showed the real thing. What a crazy fish. Love that the painting is as big as the fish story…priceless. !!

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  20. I’m glad you gave them both paintings, because I think it would be too hard to choose only one. They are both very good, even though they are a bit different. Honestly, if you held them out to me and said I had to pick only one to keep, I’d be very, very tempted to grab them both and run!

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  22. They both look great! The first is more ‘manly’ in my opinion and your second attempt is more feminine; it’s a push out of your comfort zone and you always rise to the challenge and succeed!! 😊😊

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