Fishy Fascination
Photoshop
This illustration is based on Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
This cat’s treasure is fish, and it will eventually rot away. Although it is a humorous example, it conveys the biblical concept of concentrating on heavenly things rather than earthly things. As a Christian artist, I want to make works that are fun, beautiful, and also convey truths. This lighthearted illustration is a good reminder to me of what things I should value in life: the things that are in Heaven (Matt 6:19-21).
My focus for this piece was to communicate that concept through unity versus variety. I achieved this by contrasting the many unified fish with the focal point of the cat.
First, I started with a rough sketch. I had the idea of a cat surrounded by fish, perhaps in a fish store. I pulled inspiration primarily from fish markets and environments in Klaus.
1. Rough Sketch
Next, I finished the thumbnail by establishing the values and shapes for the final piece. Clear values and silhouettes make the picture stronger, and establishing them early on makes it easier to render later.
2. Value Sketch
With the values in place, I began to render the form of the fish and cat, taking into account lighting and atmospheric perspective. My goal was to convey a low-lit, cramped environment, so I created a low contrast in the background for a misty feel.
3. Full Values
After the forms had been mostly rendered, I added a predominantly blue color adjustment layer. I wanted the focal point of the cat to really draw the eye, so it has warm colors while the rest of the picture is bluer. I also put a curtain on the window.
4. Color
Finally, I painted on top of everything to complete the piece. I used textured brushes to blend out the edges of objects and to add texture, especially on the cat and fish. I left everything else with less texture to increase interest in the focal point.
The composition emphasizes unity versus variety, with the focal point of the cat standing out among the many fish. The color, texture, and shape of the cat are in strong contrast with the rest of the piece. With the fish hanging all around the scene, the picture pulls us in; you can almost smell the fish.