Goldfish Pond Chalk Art Tutorial

Last week we visited our friends’ goldfish pond. We’ve always loved their goldfish pond with the rippling water and beautiful goldfish with white, flowing fins! We’ve talked about a goldfish pond chalk art tutorial to capture the lily pads and the orange goldfish. We decided it was time – because we got to visit our goldfish, Hershey.

Hershey was a white elephant gift last Christmas. Middle Girl took such very good care of him, cleaning his tank every week. But our sweet friends offered and we knew that Hershey would have a better life with a larger place to swim!

Of course, our goldfish has grown quite a bit in about six weeks. He’s not as big as the other goldfish, so he sort of stays off under the water plants unless it is feeding time.

Goldfish Pond Chalk Art Tutorial

What you will need: blue or black construction paper and chalk pastels (water blue, aqua blue, purple, light green, yellow, orange, white and black.)

Make a pond. We began this tutorial by following the directions in Nana’s Lily Pad Chalk Art Tutorial. This one is a stunning tutorial made on black construction paper. You can ‘see’ the water flowing! And that flowing water is such fun to create with black, aqua and purple chalk pastels. Special note: be sure to leave some spots or ‘holes’ in your water to add your goldfish.

Now the fun part! The goldfish! Simply think of how your goldfish might be swimming this way and that in the pond. With your orange chalk pastel, help them curve and turn as you add them to the spots that you have saved in your painting. Draw a raindrop-shaped outline. Gently fill in the orange goldfish but keep in mind you will want to use a yellow chalk pastel to place a bit of sunshine on the top of each fish. Use your ring finger or your pinkie to gently blend the color of each goldfish. You can always add a touch more ‘sunshine’ on each fish if you blend a bit too much. Feel free to add a dot of an eye with your black pastel.

Also, those beautiful, flowing fins! With your white chalk pastel, draw the fish fins on the side. Also add a tail. The tail is somewhat of a ‘V’ shape but you will want each goldfish to be motioning its tail and side fins in a different way. They are all swimming in unique ways.

Fold the water in around your fish. Now take your blue or your purple pastel stick and turn it on its side. Carefully make the water ‘flow’ around your fish. You can show the water swirling around the fins.

Our goldfish ‘Hershey’ is the little one to the right, near the water plants.

Fill in any ‘water’ and pull those colors and blend in any finishing touches. Add some pond grasses. What a beautiful goldfish pond and fish you have painted! You ARE an Artist!

A Special Note of Encouragement

You may have noticed that the past few art tutorials have been shared by me rather than Nana. This is because I felt confident enough to step out myself and share what I have learned from Nana – that I am an artist! Like you, I sometimes feel like I can’t create something as beautiful as Nana. But, God has gifted us all in unique ways. The simple, sheer enjoyment of creating is a beautiful thing. And yes, we all are artists in some way. Keep on practicing. Keep on enjoying!

Featuring You! You ARE an Artist!

So, paint your goldfish pond picture and be sure to share with us! Simply tag @hodgepodgemom on social media, send a photo via the Hodgepodge contact form here or post on the Hodgepodge Facebook page. We will be sharing these via the Hodgepodge instagram or on our Art Tutorials Showcase Pinterest board – or both! Nana will even comment on a few I am sure!

Free eBook and More!

• Get your FREE ebook! Getting Started in Chalk Pastel Art.
• See how you can get started in just three steps! Watch the one minute You ARE an Artist video at Southern Hodgepodge.
• A note on chalk pastels: Pastels are an easy, forgiving medium. Fun for children and adults alike! Details on the pastels and paper we use, how and where to purchase, and links to all of Nana’s other pastel lessons (100+ free lessons now) are all contained in the post Pastels plus links to tutorials plus the video The Very Few Must Have Supplies for Chalk Pastel Art. A simple set is very affordable. Nana also teaches acrylic lessons.
• The practical aspects of a mess: Pastels are blessedly messy. We always have baby wipes close by to wipe hands. We wear something we don’t mind getting stained or don a smock.
• Encouragement: You Can Be an Artist! 10 Day series and Art for All Ages 10 Day series
• Be sure to subscribe to our Hodgepodge YouTube channel for free video art tutorials!