Mastering Goldfish Painting: A Step-By-Step Guide

Painting a goldfish can be a fun and rewarding project for artists of all skill levels. While goldfish are known for their bright orange and yellow colours, achieving this vibrant look without metallic paints can be challenging. This step-by-step guide will teach you how to create a realistic goldfish painting, complete with an underwater scene and bubbles. By following these instructions and using the recommended materials, you'll be able to bring your goldfish to life on canvas, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned artist.

How to paint a goldfish step by step

Prime the canvas with white paint

To prime the canvas with white paint, you will need a #12 bright brush and titanium white paint. Start by outlining the edges of the fish shape with the white paint, then fill in the shape with contouring strokes. You can then use the same brush to ""dry brush" the fins. To do this, load only a very small amount of white paint onto the tip of the brush and paint curved strokes in the direction of the fin. Release the pressure as you reach the edges of the fin to create a see-through effect. You can then paint the tail and the rest of the fins in the same way. Once you have finished priming the canvas with white paint, you can move on to painting the goldfish's body using cadmium orange hue.

Paint the body orange and yellow

Painting the body of a goldfish requires a few steps to achieve the bright orange and yellow colour. Firstly, prime the shape of the fish with white paint first, using a #12 bright brush and titanium white paint. Outline the edges of the shape and then fill it in with contouring strokes.

Next, load your brush with cadmium orange hue and paint the body of the fish. Without rinsing the brush, load it with primary yellow. Gently blend the yellow with the orange, but avoid blending it all the way. Paint the central part of the fish's body with the yellow, ensuring your strokes are contoured or curved.

Rinse the brush and then load it with a small amount of titanium white. Paint little white curves on the side of the fish in the central part of the body, trying not to blend these curves. Use the same white paint to paint the curve/gill to the left of the head area.

Paint the fins with a dry brush

Painting the fins with a dry brush is a simple yet effective way to add texture and dimension to your goldfish painting. This technique is especially useful when creating the illusion of translucent fins, giving your fish a more lifelike appearance. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving this effect:

Prepare your brush and paint:

Start by rinsing and drying your #12 bright brush. You want the brush to be completely dry before you begin painting the fins. Load your brush with a minimal amount of titanium white paint. You only need a tiny bit of paint on the tip of the brush.

Paint with curved strokes:

Using light pressure, paint curved strokes that follow the direction and shape of the fins. Hold the brush very lightly, allowing the bristles to gently skim the canvas. This technique will create a translucent effect, making the fins appear delicate and see-through at the edges.

Build up colour gradually:

After painting the fins with white, it's time to add colour. Load your brush with a small amount of cadmium orange hue, painting over the white fins using the same dry brush stroke technique. Remember to paint in a curved direction, following the contour of the fins. You can also add a touch of primary yellow to the orange, gently blending the two colours without fully mixing them. This will add depth and variation to the fins, capturing the vibrant hues of a real goldfish.

Preserve the translucent effect:

When applying the orange and yellow paint, be careful not to cover all of the white paint underneath. Allow some of the white to show through, preserving the translucent quality of the fins. Additionally, ensure that the paint is applied very thinly, as a thick layer may lose the desired transparent effect.

Add final details:

Once you're happy with the colour and texture of the fins, you can add some final details. Using a #4 round brush and mars black paint, create thin lines on each of the fins, starting at the top of the fish and fading towards the tip of the fin. This adds definition and accentuates the shape of the fins.

By following these steps, you can create beautiful, translucent fins for your goldfish painting, capturing the graceful movement of these aquatic creatures.

Add black lines to the fins

To add black lines to the fins of your goldfish painting, follow these steps:

Firstly, load your palette with mars black paint. Using a #4 round brush, start painting thin lines on each of the fin areas, beginning at the top of the fish and fading away towards the tip of the dorsal fin. It is important to leave the underlying colour showing through, so be sure not to cover the entire fin with black paint. Repeat this process for the tail and all other fins.

For added detail, you can use the same #4 round brush and some titanium white paint to create tiny white dots in the water, curving them in the direction of the current.

Now that your goldfish's fins are complete, you can move on to adding the finishing touches to your painting, such as creating bubbles or painting seaweed in the background.

Paint tiny white dots for bubbles

Painting tiny white dots for bubbles is a simple yet effective way to add a playful and realistic touch to your goldfish painting. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you achieve this:

Prepare your materials

Before you begin painting the bubbles, ensure you have the necessary materials ready. You will need a paintbrush, preferably a small round brush such as a #4 round brush or a similar size. You will also need white paint, such as titanium white, and a black canvas or a canvas painted with matte black paint.

Create the bubbles

To create the illusion of bubbles, start by tracing various-sized circles on your canvas. These circles will represent the bubbles floating in the water around your goldfish. You can use a white paint pen or a white colour pencil to create the circles. If using a colour pencil, simply paint over the circle with a round brush and titanium white paint. Vary the sizes and positions of the circles to mimic the random behaviour of bubbles in water. Some bubbles may even go off the canvas or touch each other.

Add shine and highlights

To make your bubbles shine and come to life, add some shiny details to the tops of the bubbles. Use white paint to highlight and add reflections to the bubbles. You can also add small white dots to represent popped bubbles, creating a sense of movement and realism.

Enhance with colour

While the tutorial suggests using any colour palette, it is recommended to choose 3-4 bright colours in addition to titanium white. Double-load your brush by dipping it into both the colour and white paint to create a light, bubbly effect. Paint curved marks or zig-zag lines along the edges of the circles to make the bubbles colourful and reflective.

Final touches

Once you are happy with your bubble painting, take a step back and admire your work! Remember to sign your name and show off your beautiful goldfish painting with its playful bubbles to your friends and family.

Frequently asked questions