Large Koi Fish Painting on Antiqued Chinese Paper
78cm
30¾"
76.9cm
30¼"

Approximate Measurements

Artwork Panel: 66.9cm x 68cm  ≈  26¼" x 26¾"

Silk/Brocade Border: 76.9cm x 78cm  ≈  30¼" x 30¾"

This is the last one of this series. This artist recently retired from producing artwork (he still teaches a little). There will be no more after this one.

Eight Koi Fish - Large Antique-Style Painting

This is a very large portrait depicting a group of koi fish as they circle and swim in every direction.

This particular painting was done on special antiqued xuan paper. This handmade paper was stained in a semi-uniform manner with Chinese tea. You may see some slight color variations and artifacts (husks, specks, and fibers) from the handmade paper process. These are all natural parts of this kind of artwork. In fact, this is what a 200-year-old painting might look like, using all of the "old school" techniques to make the material (for hundreds of years, Chinese artists have tea-stained their paper to get a nice natural tan color). Of course, this painting was made earlier this year.

The artist of these cool freestyle koi fish paintings and I

The artist is such a cool old Chinese man. He is 62 years old, but has the heart of a teenager. I always have a good time when I visit his studio. He gets as excited as I do when he is showing me a new piece that he has just finished. Then he tries to teach me how to paint (a futile effort). I always wish him long life and happiness when I leave. I really hope he lives forever, the world needs more people like Mr. Yu
(The not-so-Chinese-looking guy in this picture is me)

These fish are associated strongly with both Japanese and Chinese cultures. Beautiful garden parks in the cities around China are often graced with a pond full of these fish throughout the year. They are a very strong fish as they can be seen swimming slowly under thick sheets of ice in lakes during the brutal Winter of northern China.

Also, in Mandarin Chinese, "fish" is pronounced "Yu" which is the same pronunciation as the word meaning "wealth" or "being rich". So many Chinese people believe that having a painting of fish in your home will bring you wealth and riches.

Materials used are special black and red Chinese ink on rice paper. The painting has been mounted with a thicker rice paper backing and silk matting/border.

The artist's name is "Yu Gong-Quan" but his pen name is "Mao Zhi".

Yu Gong-Quan was born in Shanghai in 1941.

He studied art for many years in Anhui Province. After perfecting his skills he started his career as an artist.

For the last 30 years of his life, he has continued to develop his unique style.

He is currently a professor of art at an institute in Beijing, China.

This painting includes a silk matting/border, but not a frame.
I recommend professional framing for the best presentation of this artwork.