Longnose Butterflyfish & Moorish Idol

Vibrant underwater scene featuring tropical fish in watercolor and colored pencil, with unique bubble effects created by applying alcohol to wet paint, set against a coral reef backdrop with turquoise-to-blue gradient waters

“Longnose Butterflyfish and Moorish Idol”; watercolor, colored pencil, Ink; 11in x 14in, (2003). Artist Private Collection

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Completed tropical fish watercolor shown on drawing table with watercolor palette and materials, displaying the artwork's rich colors and unique bubble textures created with alcohol technique; 2003
Artist Alvin Fall holding matted underwater scene artwork of Butterfly Fish and Moorish Idol, showing scale and presentation of the completed piece

Fall's underwater study piece showcases his exploration of Claudia Nice's mixed media techniques, combining fluid watercolor with precise ink work and colored pencil detailing. The vibrant scene captures tropical fish gliding through turquoise waters, where innovative use of alcohol dropping on wet paint creates ethereal bubble patterns throughout the composition. This experimental piece proved pivotal in Fall's artistic development, as he would later adapt these same watercolor techniques to create dynamic, atmospheric backgrounds in his 2006 sports art series. The successful integration of multiple mediums here - from the loose, organic watercolor effects to the precise detailing of the fish - demonstrates the artist's technical versatility and willingness to explore new methods that continued developing his signature style.