Ichthyoforms, Fish Paintings by Marcia Santore

Ichthyoforms

Ichthyoforms (from the Greek ἰχθῦς or ichthŷs, meaning “fish”) uses fish imagery as a point of departure to begin an exploration of color, line, and form. To me, these paintings are not about fish as fish, but fish as sinuous forms that lead to the boundary between recognizable subject matter and complete abstraction, exploring the relationships of vivid colors, and discovering shape through pattern. Most are painted in acrylic, some in oil; some include collaged elements such as paper or string. While none are fish found in nature, I've been told that some Ichthyoform paintings echo real fish behavior—a fascinating synchonicity. Click on each image for a larger view and more information.