Fish in Hokusai Waves

Thought a wave would be fairly straight-forward to paint ... but not Hokusai's waves, and certainly not more than one. That guy was an artistic genius, esp as he made his wave in woodblock form which took a LOT more energy to carve than it took me to do the detail work to watercolor.

Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾 北斎, c. October 31, 1760 – May 10, 1849) was a Japanese artist, ukiyo-e painter and printmaker of the Edo period. He was influenced by Sesshū Tōyō and other styles of Chinese painting. Born in Edo (now Tokyo), Hokusai is best known as author of the woodblock print series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (富嶽三十六景 Fugaku Sanjūroku-kei, c. 1831) which includes the internationally iconic print, The Great Wave off Kanagawa. 

Hokusai created the "Thirty-Six Views" both as a response to a domestic travel boom and as part of a personal obsession with Mount Fuji. It was this series, specifically The Great Wave print and Fine Wind, Clear Morning, that secured Hokusai’s fame both in Japan and overseas. As historian Richard Lane concludes, "Indeed, if there is one work that made Hokusai's name, both in Japan and abroad, it must be this monumental print-series". While Hokusai's work prior to this series is certainly important, it was not until this series that he gained broad recognition. (Wikipedia) 

Fish in Hokusai Wave
Watercolor palette limited to complimentary colors. Marie's watercolor on shikishi. 18cm x 21cm