Another Outing for Fishboy

Just when I thought it time to give Fishboy a happy ending, we went to The Deep, the spectacular aquarium in Hull and this scenario occurred.
There are so many signs announcing feeding times, it would be only logical that Fishboy might get the wrong end of the stick about who gets fed.

Having got to May without a single painting, I have been making up for lost time and have in the last month done six. Unfortunately the first was for friends and I forgot to take a picture and three are for an exhibition at the Lincoln Steampunk festival – so I cannot publish them anywhere before then. I’ll probably put them in the charity auction so I must remember to scan them for my records and to show you.

Fishboy’s Story

Fishboy was born several years ago when my partner obligingly pulled a silly face that inspired me to create a whole scenario around its combination of wide eyed innocence, hope and fear.

In his first outing Fishboy was being chatted up by a bunch of mermaids who were clearly up to no good.

In 2016 year six paintings followed.

In January, inspired by Angler Fish, Fishboy tried a spot of deep sea fishing, only to find that a monster fish was less than impressed by his attempt at poaching.

Poaching partrol, Fishboy comes acropper by Erica Madelin

Deciding that life on land might be easier afterall, Fishboy visited a small harbour town only to find the local cat population was rather too interested in his lunch.

Shore Leave by Erica Madelin

Around the summer time he thought his luck was in when a foundered ship deposited a large box of tuna tins on his home beech. Free food! Alas, it was not to be because where was he to find a can opener?

The Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh Away by Erica Madelin

Food is of course not everything in life, love is food for the soul afterall. In the autumn, possibly following an inapproprate conversation about Hentai, Fishboy found himself in the arms of an amorous octopus.

Cuddles by Erica Madelin

In December I took pity on Fishboy and sent him a bicycle. I heard that Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said: “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring.” I think Fishboy knows that, deep in his fishy little heart but I somehow doubt he will ever get this bicycle on the road.

Bicycles for Fishboys by Erica Madelin

Finally, as the New Year loomed I thought it would be nice if Fishboy got a present….possibly from his friend the octopus. Soggy, many armed Christmas jumper anyone? Still, it’s better than socks!

Fits where it Touches by Erica Madelin

I don’t yet know what the new year will bring for Fishboy but I have so enjoyed doing these. I think I paint them like a child does, telling myself the story as I go and giggling slightly.

 

 

 

 

 

Flowers for a Friend

A friend of mine asked me to do a sunny, happy picture for the room where she does positivity training and life coaching. I prefer slightly gloomy, wistful scenes (more of which later) so this was a bit of a challenge for me but she was adamant the flowers couldn’t be dying (not even ever so slightly!) so I decided to give it a go in oils.

Because I saw it as just a bit of fun I completed it in three sittings and used bright, opaque pigments. At the end of session two I stood back, quite pleased and then realised I had made a perfectly adequate advert for sunflower spread. The slightly abstract swirl into the blue sky that I had intended to express freedom and sunshine now looked suspiciously like margarine.

For session three I added some hints of brown into the petals (purely to stop it looking like an advert and nothing to do with my need to paint decay, honest gov!)
My friend was delighted though, so all’s well.