Coy Koi

Bright koi weave through unusually dark water, slipping between luminous lily pads, deep ripples, and flashes of brilliant blue.

Coy Koi is a fine art print of my original 2015 watercolor, created as an exploration of depth, color, and just how far I could push transparent watercolor while still preserving the clarity and luminosity I love about the medium.

Origin & Inspiration

Water is often painted as something light, reflective, and open. With Coy Koi, I wanted to take the opposite approach.

I built the pond from deep saturated tones with midnight blue passages, allowing the koi to appear at different depths beneath the surface. Against that darkness, the fish and lily pads emerge almost like jewels.

Some of the koi seem content to drift peacefully beneath the water.

Others make themselves a little harder to ignore.

That contrast between stillness and movement became one of my favorite parts of the painting—the feeling that each fish has its own little personality moving through the pond.

About the Original Artwork

The original Coy Koi was painted in transparent watercolor with layers of mineral and semi-precious gemstone pigments.

One of the experiments in this painting involved combining colors that watercolor painters are often taught to approach very carefully.

A deeply staining pyrrol orange was established first in portions of the koi. Once completely dry, selected areas were glazed with a granular gemstone blue.

Orange and blue sit opposite one another on the color wheel, so layering them can easily collapse into muddy neutrals. In this painting, however, the very different characteristics of the pigments allowed both colors to remain visually present while layered.

The effect can be seen where the blue ripples in the water appear passing over the warm orange of the fish beneath it.

In the original painting, mineral and gemstone pigments also catch changing light with subtle shimmer. That physical interaction between pigment, paper, and light belongs uniquely to the original artwork.

A reproduction can preserve the image, color, movement, and atmosphere of Coy Koi—while the changing surface remains part of the original watercolor’s one-of-a-kind character.

Fine Art Print Details

These fine art prints are created from my original 2015 watercolor painting Coy Koi.

Available as:

Fine Art Paper Print
Metal Print

Each print is produced to preserve the rich color, deep contrast, movement, and layered sense of depth found in the original artwork.

Available Sizes

16" × 20"
24" × 30"
28" × 35"

The original proportions of the artwork are preserved in every size.

Original Artwork Details

Title: Coy Koi
Artist: Christie Marie Elder
Created: 2015
Original Medium: Watercolor with mineral and semi-precious gemstone pigments
Original Artwork Size: 16" H × 20" W

Copyright

© Christie Marie Elder. All rights reserved.

Purchase of this print does not transfer copyright or reproduction rights. All artwork and imagery remain the property of the artist.

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OPEN EDITION FINE ART PRINT

This is an open-edition fine art reproduction of an original artwork by Christie Marie Elder.

Open-edition prints are created without a fixed edition limit, making them an approachable way to collect and enjoy my artwork while still receiving a professionally produced fine art reproduction.

Each print is made to order using archival-quality materials and professional fine art printing methods.

 

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COLD PRESS FINE ART PAPER

Printed on a beautiful Cold Press Textured Matte Fine Art Paper, chosen for its rich surface and its ability to complement the character of watercolor and painterly artwork.

The paper is a substantial 340 gsm, 100% cotton rag, acid-free fine art paper with a neutral-white, heavily textured matte surface. Its texture is reminiscent of traditional watercolor paper, allowing color, detail, and subtle variations in the artwork to reproduce beautifully.

Fine art paper prints are sold unframed and unmatted, allowing you to choose a presentation that works with your own space and style.

Because many of my paintings have their own unique proportions, I prefer to preserve the artwork’s original composition rather than crop it simply to fit standard frame dimensions. A custom-cut mat is an easy way to fit the print into a larger standard frame while keeping the complete image visible.

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METAL PRINT

Metal prints give the artwork a luminous, contemporary presentation with particularly rich color, crisp detail, and beautiful depth.

The image is reproduced onto a polymer-coated aluminum surface using dye-sublimation printing, a process in which the image becomes part of the coated surface rather than sitting on top of it.

The finished print is lightweight, durable, water-resistant, and scratch-resistant, with especially vibrant color and strong contrast.

Each metal print includes an inset frame on the back with hanging wire and arrives ready to hang. The recessed mounting system allows the artwork to sit slightly away from the wall, creating a clean, contemporary floating effect.

Metal is one of my favorite choices for artwork featuring water, tropical color, night skies, reflections, and luminous blues, because the medium can give those colors wonderful visual presence.

Please note: the metal print itself does not recreate metallic or reflective pigments that may be present in the original painting unless specifically stated in the artwork description.

 

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AVAILABLE SIZES

Each artwork is offered only in sizes that work well with its composition.

Rather than forcing every image into the same standard proportions, I preserve the artwork’s intended shape whenever possible.

Available sizes for this artwork:

• 16 × 20"
• 24 × 30"
• 28 × 35"

Dimensions refer to the printed artwork itself.

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MADE TO ORDER

Each fine art print is made especially for you after your order is placed rather than pulled from mass-produced inventory.

My professional fine art printing partner produces each piece using calibrated professional printing equipment and archival-quality materials before carefully preparing it for shipment. My partner provides fulfillment, so the print is produced and shipped directly to you as part of Kaua‘i Christie’s Art. 

Because each piece is made to order, please allow several business days for production before shipping.

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SHIPPING & DELIVERY

Once your print has completed production, it is carefully packaged for shipment and tracking information is provided when available.

Fine Art Paper: Larger paper prints are normally protected and shipped rolled in a sturdy mailing tube. Flat shipping may be available for certain sizes for an additional charge. 

Metal Prints: Metal prints are securely packaged to protect the surface and edges during transit.

Production and shipping are separate stages. Please allow time for your artwork to be created before carrier transit begins. Delivery times vary by destination and shipping method.

For time-sensitive orders, please contact Kaua‘i Christie’s Art before ordering so I can help determine the best available option.

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ABOUT COLOR & REPRODUCTION

I take care to reproduce the color and character of each original artwork as faithfully as possible.

Please keep in mind that every screen displays color somewhat differently, so the artwork you receive may vary slightly from what you see on your phone, tablet, or computer.

Because an original painting may contain texture, metallic pigments, gemstone watercolor, surface sheen, or other materials that interact physically with light, some qualities of an original simply cannot be duplicated in a reproduction.

When an artwork includes one of these special effects, I’ll note it in the individual artwork description.

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CARE

Fine Art Paper: Framing behind protective glazing is recommended. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, moisture, and handling of the printed surface.

Metal: Dust gently with a clean microfiber or soft dry cloth. If deeper cleaning is needed, professional printer recommends warm water or a mild cleanser. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight whenever possible.