art and dad

I have three aquariums. 

When we were setting them up and it was time to decide on a backdrop, I didn't want just any backdrop that could be had by anyone. I wanted one that was unique and totally mine. 

Since I'm an artist I decided to paint my own for each of my aquariums.

It started with the first, where else would you start? (Duh) Anyway...here is a picture of the first backdrop I did...

And this is what it looked like inside the tank after it was filled and had fish in it.

Unfortunately, the dragon is blocking most of the view of the backdrop. We have since had to change the tank out completely. The paint on the dragon was poisoning the water and killing the fish. Yeah, thats a thing. It can happen. Be careful what you put in your tank with your fish. I learned the hard way. It's only natural rock and live plants for now on for me.

My second tank is a nano tank. I also painted a cave entrance backdrop for it.

I didn't get a picture of it before we put it on the back of the tank.

Then came the 20 gallon...

We decided to go with a sunken ship for this one.

We have since changed this tank too. It now looks like this

My husband moved the tubes from the under gravel filter and put natural stone and live plants in. 

We also had to do a redo on the larger Aquarium that was our first. It now also has live plants, natural stone and driftwood in it. I also painted a new backdrop for it.( Sorry about the reflection from the TV.)

This is the backdrop before we put it on the back of the aquarium.

As you can see, the water in the tank and the reflections can subdue the colors and contrast in the backdrop. I have learned that I have to be intense with the color and contrast if I want it to be noticed at all. The trick, I think, is to make it blend in with what you have going on in the tank. You want the fish to be what is noticed in your aquarium. Everything else should be to make the fish comfortable and happy but still appealing to the eye.

  I think it looks pretty good. My husband loves them but he is kinda bias. He has always loved my work and he does give a lot of input into the painting I do that ends up on a shared work which our aquariums are. I love my little fishes.

Anyway, if I can find a place that can print my work to any size that someone may desire to fit an aquarium I will be making available prints to sell of some select works that can be used for aquarium backdrops. If I can't find one well, maybe I'll just have to figure out how to do it myself..

Until then, wish me luck and come back for updates. 

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time,

                                                                Melissa