Initial thoughts
This idea actually came to me when I first started painting in 2018. At that time, I was refining my skills but kept wondering what subjects or themes I would like to explore in the future. One captivating idea was creating a moonlight sailing fantasy oil painting that embodies both mystery and imagination.
Since I am naturally drawn to seascapes and marine-related scenes, I initially envisioned a sailing ship moving across the night sky, with a giant, bright moon in the background. However, I soon felt the scene was a bit dull. So, I decided to add something living and vivid. For a sailing ship, one might typically imagine a whale or dolphin leading it. But since this ship is in the sky, I changed the leading animals to wolves—not real wolves, but wolf-shaped ancient spirits that add to the fantasy element of the moonlight sailing.
And there it is—a magical wooden sailboat sailing through the clouds in the night sky. A giant, bright full moon hangs behind it, its light gently pushing the sail. The ancient spirits feel intrigued and wish to guide the ship. So, they transform into wolves, running in front of the sailboat. Their paws leave glowing marks on the clouds. They are happy to join this sailing adventure.
Digital concept
Generally, the clouds represent waves. Since the wolves are spirits, they do not need to be hyper-realistic. I gave them glowing eyes and a subtle fur texture. Their color closely matches the surrounding clouds because they are formed from the clouds. The overall mood captures the essence of a moonlight sailing, fulfilling the fantasy oil painting vision.
The sail is a bit confusing because, in the digital concept, I couldn’t determine which one was in front of the other. During the actual painting, it took me some time to sort out the positions of each sail.
Summary
I am glad that I didn’t give up on this idea. Back in 2018, I was unable to complete this painting. Finally, I finished it in 2025. Time will tell how this moonlight fantasy on canvas resonates with people.
Oh, don’t forget there is a person on the boat~
I hope you enjoy this one.
Thank you.