I am particularly proud of this gouache painting, but it doesn’t live up to its inspiration. This brings no shame as it is inspired by a Sumi Koan Painting by Josetsu of the same name.
Done to stylistically mimic the floating world prints of late medieval Japan, it is part of my own Ukiyo E series.
As for the visual koan, The gourd represents our mind, and the catfish represents Zen enlightenment. The latter being slippery and hard to catch and the former being wholly unsuited to the task.
18×24 gouache on 140lb watercolor paper
A print of this piece is available <HERE>
