Toy Fish c. 1940

Charles Garjian made this watercolor painting, Toy Fish, on paper. I wonder what Garjian was thinking as he painted this lovely little fish. Was it a favorite toy from his childhood perhaps? I bet he studied its form, turning it this way and that, before he even wet his brush. See how the brown paint pools and puddles, creating a warm, earthy tone that makes you want to reach out and touch the fish? It's like he's giving it a kind of solid presence through the careful modeling of light and shadow. The brushstrokes are so delicate and precise, especially around the fish’s distinctive snout and fins, each line has a purpose. You know, this fish reminds me of some of the folk art carvings I've seen. There’s something simple and honest about the way Garjian captured it. We are all connected, artists speaking across time! Painting is like that. An ongoing conversation, inspiring new ideas and ways of seeing the world.