Painting: Parochialism

Date: March, 2026

Size: 24" x 36"

Medium: Oils on Canvas

We frequently repeat behavior without comprehending their purpose and hesitate to explore beyond our material world. We confine ourselves to daily routines, cultures, and national borders. Our minds have been conditioned to limit our thinking and not venture beyond these routines. Recently, I contemplated what subject to choose for my next painting. This led me to decide on painting fish in a pond, with different fish representing various human personalities, yet exhibiting similar behaviors.

As I explore realism, this painting accurately portrays the diverse and intricate aspects of the scene.

When the fish is underwater, its scales appear blurry, smooth, and not sharp. A closer look also shows dust particles floating on the water's surface.

The shadow from above is mirrored in the water and extends onto the fish is show in this photo. The shadow partially covers the fish, with the left side appearing lighter than the right side.

Small fishes attempting to reach the surface for food cause more water disturbance compared to the other photos.

You can clearly see lotus leaves floating on the water's surface, with the leaf on the top left mostly submerged. Water droplets are also visible on top of the leaves.

Several photos illustrate the dark blue hue of the water, highlighting the waves.

Additional photos.