Flow and Life – The Koi Project

The Joy of Painting: My Journey with Koi Fish

This year, my theme as an artist is simple yet profound — to find joy through painting. I no longer see art as something to be evaluated by how “well” or “poorly” one paints. Instead, I view it as a living, breathing act — like koi fish swimming freely and playfully through clear water. There is movement, energy, and delight in that image, and that is exactly what I wish to capture in my work.

When I paint, I feel an endless flow of energy and happiness. It is a source of joy stronger than almost anything else I’ve experienced. Through my koi paintings, I want to share this vitality — to show others that art can be a pathway to pure enjoyment and self-renewal.

That is why I chose Koi Fish as the theme for my art classes this year. To my surprise, my students responded with incredible enthusiasm and curiosity. Watching them become absorbed in the colors, the water, and the graceful movement of the fish has been deeply rewarding. I even found myself thinking, I wish I had introduced this subject to them earlier.

The popularity of my koi paintings is something I’ve witnessed firsthand — from the early days of my first solo exhibition in America to the recent display at the Port Jefferson Gallery, where the vibrant koi once again captured the hearts of many visitors. These experiences confirmed for me that this subject embodies something universal — a joyful rhythm of life that connects people across cultures and languages.

So, as this year comes to an end, I have decided to go deeper — to explore and share more about my koi paintings as a way to express the boundless joy that art brings. Through these works, I hope others, too, can feel the same sense of freedom and delight that I find every time my brush touches the canvas.
(c) Anna Koh – annakoh.com