(every time you click on the "home" button above, the page will refresh and allow you to view additional header images) Portions of this site are still under construction, please revisit in the near future to view the completed koi bronze sculpture.
Welcome to KoiArtist.com your source for fine art detailed, realistic Nishikigoi fine art and fine art koi bronze sculptures, paintings and fine art koi prints and other bronze related pond art.
If a person travels to Japan and tells his or her friends that he or she loves Koi, their friends might invite that person to eat the dull gray fish that inhabits the waters of the islands: In Japanese, the word Koi simply means carp (incidentally, the word koi can also mean "love".
Hello, my name is Caesar Yanez and I have enjoyed these beautiful fish for years. My love of Nishikigoi/koi has inspired me to combine my other love (sculpting with clay); therefore, I ventured into the world of koi art.
Therefore, I have created the following works of art for everyone’s enjoyment - lost-wax bronze Koi artsculptures); Koi
Prints (digital graphics), oil on canvas
- originals. These works of art (Koi sculptures) are created to the correct standard and confirmation depicting fine detail, realism and accuracy. Before I consider my clay models complete, they under go several stages of review from Nishikigoi-koi breeders and judges. Together with my artistic perspective and the keen eyes of everyone that helped tweak the sculpture, we are able to produce fine art bronze koi statues true to the nature of the Nishikigoi beauty and grace.
The carp is a fish originally from Central Europe and Asia. Different carp species were domesticated in China and South East Asia, where they were used as a food. The carp adapted to many climates and water conditions allowing the domesticated species to be breed to many new places like Japan. Natural color changes of these carp would have taken place across all populations. Historical records suggest that carp were first bred for color mutations in China. Careful breeding of the Prussian carp led to the evolution of the goldfish. The Goldfish was introduced to Japan in the 16th century and to European countries in the 17th century.
The common carp are known as koi in Japan. Koi were first bred for color in Japan in the 1820s. By the 20th century, a number of color patterns had been established, most notably the red-and-white Kohaku. The world was unformed of the development of color variations in koi until 1914, when the Niigata koi were displayed in the annual exposition in Tokyo. It was then that, interest in koi spurted throughout Japan. The koi-keeping eventually spread worldwide. Koi are now sold in most pet stores, with higher-quality koi available through specialist dealers and breeders.
Koi varieties are well-known by coloration, patterning, and scalation. Ghost koi, developed in the 1980s are metallic hybrids of wild carp and Ogon koi and are not considered true Nishikigoi. Butterfly koi, Long fin koi, or Dragon Carp were also developed in the 1980s and are known for their long and flowing fins. They are actually hybrids with Asian carp and, like Ghost koi, are not considered true Nishikigoi.
Koi have many different colors. Some of the major colors are white, black, red, yellow, blue, and cream.
While the possible variations are limitless, breeders have identified and named a number of specific categories. The most popular category is Gosanke, which is made up of the Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku, and Showa Sanshoku varieties.
The major named varieties include: Kohaku, Taisho Sanshoku, Showa Sanshoku, Tancho, Asagi, Utsurimono, Bekko, Goshiki, Shusui, Kinginrin, Kawarimono, Ogon, Kumonryu, Doitsu-goi, Ochiba, Koromo, Hikari-moyomono
Some information taken form Wikipedia
Fancy goldfish are one of my passions, the ranchu goldfish happens to be my favorite goldfish.
The following video clip is one of the large koi I studied for the large koi sculpture. The projected size for the koi is 26" - 27". Special attention paid to the head area. Enjoy the koi video
Below are three video clips posted on youtube.com where the Nishiki Koi Club members critique the koi sculptures
I removed the fins from the koi model in order to ease the fabricaton of the mould.
My koi model was sculpted with an open mouth; therefore, the mould maker will create a plug for the mouth.
I sculpted two water lilys for the frog to sit on.
The frog sitting on the lilys. The lily and frog will also be available as a free standing bronze.
The pectral and pelvic fins for the koi are prepared for the mold process.
The koi model is placed on a bed of clay.
Gary Pawlowski fabricated the
koi mold. Gary is a mold maker, sculptor; make up artist for the film industry and I was honored to have him create the mold for my bronze koi statue. Outstanding work! Building up the layers of fiberglass. (left)
Here we are trying to determine the correct pose for the bronze.
The frog and lily are posed over the koi in order to determine the correct angle.
The wax fins are invested in a hard ceramic shell.
The ceramic shell is a build up of slurries. The sand and silica is used to build the wall thickness through many coatings.
Here I am trying to position the fins correctly before they are completely welded to the body.
The pectoral fins are tack welded as I compare the original clay sculpture to the bronze koi.
Patina artist, Erin Barrett applies the paste wax after her application of patina to the bronze koi and driftwood base.
The bronze koi statue sits on a green marble base.
Front shot of the bronze koi.
The initial concept for the bronze, but after much feedback we desided to omit the frog. On special requests orders I can added the frog.
Detail image of the green marble base and driftwood bronze, which displays my studio seal.
Top view of the bronze frog as it sits on the lilly pads.
About Sculptor
