Koi – Feeding Time (Not for sale)

This was a gift for an ex—kind of. We went on a date to the koi pond at Hahn Horticulture Garden, and I was inspired to paint this. It was my first time trying to date seriously, and I did everything “right,” waiting for feelings to show up. They didn’t. He didn’t. I let him go after a period of three weeks of no effort.
But I love this painting. I fingerpainted the base, chasing movement and light, then added the final details with a small brush. The gradient was intentional: cool edges, warm center, like the light is pooling around the fish. The golden glow, the swirling brushstrokes, the impressionistic style—it all came together fast.
It’s a memory, but not a sad one. Just a moment. Just koi, feeding.