金魚と暮らすこと ― 水を替えて、眺める時間

We have goldfish plus pond snails at home. Not any special kind, just very ordinary goldfish.

Changing the water

The most frequent task in caring for goldfish is changing the water. I never leave it until it gets cloudy, so I change a little at a time, often. I also pay attention to the water temperature plus how much I feed them.

It is work, in a way, but once you are used to it, it takes only a few minutes. When your body starts to move at a set time in the morning or evening, it becomes the starting point for the flow of the day.

Goldfish at home
Goldfish plus pond snails at home. The time I spend watching them helps me a great deal ― Photo by Mermaid nao

Time spent watching

The time I spend watching the goldfish helps me a great deal. The movement of their fins, the swaying water plants, the way the light comes in. Just looking quiets my mind a little.

With painting, there are stretches of days when things do not go well. At times like that, if I crouch in front of the tank and watch for a while, I can go back to my desk again.

Living with living things

Caring for small creatures does not go by your own convenience alone. You move according to their condition. That feeling is somehow similar to the work of painting for other people.

What I need to keep painting is not only time to paint. Time spent changing the water plus watching the goldfish is just as important a foundation.

Mermaid nao's order art is born from everyday life like this.


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