Koi Series, Coloured Pencils on Gesso Board, Copyright Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Photo Thomas Kluck

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Why are Koi so mesmerizing? Why are people willing to pay thousands of Euro’s for a pretty ‘Asagi’, a blue Koi? I know now. Recently I sat next to a large pond with koi with beautiful colours and patterns. I looked at them for some time. I got mesmerized. Mindfully I asked myself why I was I so intensely enjoying sitting next to this pond and looking at the slow and gently moving  fish? Suddenly I understood.

The pond with Koi had become my thinking. Each koi fish represented one thought, a thought that lighted up against the dark, deep pond. Thoughts, like fish, swam in and out of my mind. The more the fish got used to me and I to them, the slower they appeared and disappeared. My whole thinking process became more like a flow; it slowed down and became less demanding. I’d let my thoughts come and go while I was aware of their coming and going. Sitting by the pond and looking at the colourful, smooth swimming fish became a meditation.

Has this meditation helped me to understand the obsession with koi carp and the willingness to spend a monthly salary on a beautiful Asagi? Yes, I do understand now, but that doesn’t mean I became so obsessed because that is a choice. However, I decided to draw a Koi-series to capture the meditation experience. Every time I look at my drawing, I like to feel that meditation again. And I hope others feel it too while looking at my drawing.

Paula

Paula Kuitenbrouwer sells exquisite fine art cards of her drawings as well as reproductions, and of some drawings smaller business-, gift- or mummy-cards. See Purchase in the header for what is available as well as the price list. In case you like to commission Paula, contact her at mindfuldrawing@gmail.com