CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS OF COLOUR
BY Dr. JERRY SIMON
August 16 2026 | Art Review
As someone who had very little formal training in art, I learnt a lot from reading books and watching documentaries about renowned artists. When I first saw work from the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, I did not necessarily like his style. But as time went by, I have become more and more fascinated with his work and now count him as my favourite among the great masters.
I am also very empathetic to his story. While some may just label him as the mad, starving artist, there were so many dimensions to him and many of his acts of kindness have not been appropriately told. In his early years, he wanted to be a pastor, like his father was. However, he gave so much of his time, service and means to those who were poor, that his fellow church colleagues encouraged him to do something else. Not that they were being mean to him, but they saw he was literally giving his blood in the service of others.
He died at the end of July 1890, apparently from a self-inflicted gun shot wound; and I wanted to do something at this time in remembrance of a man who has given the world so many great works of art and also inspired so many artists since.
A “Fish called Vincent” is not a copy of any of van Gogh’s work but rather a piece that displays some elements of his post-impressionist painting style that peaked within the last three years of his life.
In this painting, the elements of van Gogh’s style include:
- The Swirling Patterns: The background uses turbulent, rhythmic waves similar to what is seen in van Gogh’s “Starry Night” painting.
- Bold Outlines: The fish features heavy, dark contours similar to his portrait paintings and his technique in painting “The Bedroom”.
- Colour: Teal, blue and yellow/ochre were often used by van Gogh.
- Colour Contrast: The juxtaposition of deep blues, teals and vibrant pinks creates a dramatic, emotional energy.
Where this painting departs from van Gogh’s style would be in regards to texture, less impasto than his, and regards to brushwork. He tended to use distinct, choppy brush strokes of oil on canvas, while this painting is mixed media colour pencil, chalk pastel and digital. However, the idea was to give honour to his inspiration, rather than to copy his work. And hence a “A Fish Called Vincent” was designed with that in mind.
Title: A Fish Called Vincent
Artist: A. Jerry Simon
Media: Coloured pencil, chalk pastel, digital.
Tel/WhatsApp: 268 779 2176
Email: jerrysimon.art@gmail.com
