How to paint a large subject over a subtle background?

Post date: 2020-09-22 11:34:45
Views: 176
Painters, help! I want to paint a large (koi fish) over a background (stars, galaxies). I know how to paint each thing separately, but I am just getting back into painting after a long hiatus and need some tips on executing it properly.

I used to paint in acrylics all the time (~20+ yrs. ago), and I'm getting back into it, thanks to some recent bursts of inspiration.

My new vision is a koi or shubunkin fish against a cosmic nighttime sky. (I am inspired by my own shubunkins, who wow me with their stunning beauty every day, but I want to create something a bit abstract as well.)

After making some preliminary studies in oils, watercolors, drawing in various media, etc. I would like to get back into acrylics more. This is what I have on hand and I don't want to get into a ridiculous amount of money for additional supplies. Although I'm historically much more familiar with acrylics, it's been a while since I've done more formal work. I already have a prepared gessoed black canvas, which I can add more black to as a blending agent as I work. I have a healthy stock of brushes and paints, which have all held up rather nicely since my last spurt of creativity.

I know how to execute the nighttime sky effect that I want; I also know how to create the koi/shubunkin fish. I'm having a hard time remembering after all these years which goes first; the cosmic background, or to build it around the koi, which I would start with in that case. My google-fu isn't going very well lately and I want to get my technique right the first time.

Should I outline the koi first and then build the sky around it and finish the koi at the end? Or the other way around? Any tips, suggestions, websites/links, videos, etc. would be more than welcome!
Number of Comments
Please click Here to read the full story.
 
Other Top and Latest Questions:
What student loan borrowers can do if they're facing wage garnishment: 'Early action' is critical, advisor says
Trump says he's instructing his 'Representatives' to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds, claiming it will lower rates
Semiconductor stocks boosted by Donald Trump's praise for Intel and its CEO
Last call: $300 Chase Freedom Unlimited bonus ending soon
As tech stocks soar, executives use exchange funds to diversify wealth without selling
U.S. payrolls rose 50,000 in December, less than expected; unemployment rate falls to 4.4%
Meta signs nuclear energy deals to power Prometheus AI supercluster
Trump says he’s canceled second wave of attacks on Venezuela
Trump to meet with oil executives at White House. What we know about U.S. plans for Venezuela
Amazon Pharmacy starts offering Novo Nordisk's Wegovy weight-loss pill