Welcome to the final part of our textured canvas painting series! In this tutorial, we’re moving away from abstract designs and focusing on a more structured form: a beautiful Koi fish painted with acrylics onto a textured round canvas.
Materials You’ll Need:
- Textured canvas (prepped with modeling paste)
- Acrylic paints in various colours
- Paint brushes
- Medium (we used Atelier Binder Medium)
- Gloss varnish (we used Atelier Gloss Varnish)
- Soft cloth (for wiping back paint)
- Fine detail brushes for intricate designs (optional)
Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Prepare Your Textured Canvas
Using the techniques we’ve discussed in our previous blog posts, make sure your textured canvas is prepped, sealed, and ready for painting. For today’s Koi fish design, we worked on a round canvas, but feel free to experiment with different shapes.
2. Sketch the Koi Fish Outline
Lightly sketch the outline of your Koi fish before applying any paint. This will give you a clear guide to follow and ensure you keep the fish’s form intact while you layer your colours.
3. Apply Your Acrylic Paints
Start with the base colours for your fish and water. Thin your acrylics with a medium (we used Atelier Binder Medium) which allows the texture to shine through while giving your painting a smooth and even finish. And wipe back any excess paint with a damp cloth. You’ll notice that the raised texture from the canvas adds depth and dimension to your artwork.
4. Add Details
Use detail brushes to add intricate details to the Koi fish, such as scales, fins, and shading. Pay attention to the direction of the light. We used metallic paint (copper, red gold and green gold) to mimic the shiny scales of the koi fish.
5. Paint the Bright Blue Background
To make your Koi fish really pop, add a vibrant blue background using opaque paint. We chose a rich shade of blue to contrast beautifully with the warm tones of the fish. Apply the paint generously. You can work the blue around your fish, dabbing and blending slightly into the edges to soften the transition and add harmony.
6. Apply the Gloss Varnish
Once your painting is fully dry, seal it with a layer of clear gloss varnish. This gives the artwork a beautiful sheen and enhances the richness of your colours — especially the metallics. It also protects the surface, which is particularly useful for textured work that isn’t framed behind glass. We used Atelier Gloss Varnish, working gently to avoid bubbles. If needed, a quick pass with a hairdryer can help speed up drying (just avoid overheating to prevent bubbling).
Featured Products
- Atelier Binder Medium
- Jo Sonja Acrylic Paint — Carbon Black, Phthalo Blue (navy base colour)
- Jo Sonja Matte Fluid Acrylic — Metallic Cooper
- Jo Sonja Artist’s Gouache — Red Gold and Green Gold (gold koi fish colour)
- Jo Sonja Artist’s Colour — Phthalo Blue, Warm White (blue background colour)
- Jo Sonja Artist’s Gouache — Aqua (blue background colour)
- Atelier Gloss Vanish
Let Your Creativity Flow
While we’ve chosen to paint a Koi fish in this tutorial, the possibilities are endless! You can use the same techniques to paint floral designs, animals, or even abstract patterns on your textured canvas. The key is to have fun and enjoy the process.