DF&F 52-8 Tiger Trout and Driftless Caddis

Swing by Jason's blog to check out his Tiger Trout or Driftless Caddis!

Tech Info - Watercolor , gouache and pastel on Watercolor paper. 11" x 17".

I know this one was very simple. Just lines sketched for the structure and an action line sketch sketched in to show the flow of the image. My plan was to get the image sketched in and that would be it for the post. Next step was to continue on with the painting without the pressure of trying to finish it within the 30 minute time frame. After the initial sketch, I started to lay down washes. Lots of water and pigment. I like to lay down the mids and the darks early. Knowing that I will be coming back in with gouach later allows me to to this. The image at this stage is nothing but a collection of dark shapes. Once these washers were dry, (which took a long time!) I came in and started to work on the form and lighted shapes with gouache. Below is the series of images to get to the final.:

First step, very wet washes and a bit of spattered water for texture.

After the first wash dried, I added another layer, Lots of pigment and water. I also stood the image 180 degrees so that the washes ran in the direction of the action. 

The final image.

One of these days I will get to finishing the Brown and Stone image. 

Prints are 8" x 10" reproduced on digital watercolor stock, signed and number. Each print comes with a signed certificate of authenticity.

DF&F 52_7 Bunny Leech

Swing by Jason's blog to check out his Lake Trout or Bunny!

Tech Info - Watercolor and gouache on Strathmore cold press watercolor paper. 9" x 11".

Nice and simple leech for this week. Looking forward to swing the tube version of this for Spring Steel soon. The way the weather has been, it will not be long!

To purchase the original, click below:

To purchase a print, click below:

Prints are 8" x 10" reproduced on digital watercolor stock, signed and number. Each print comes with a signed certificate of authenticity.

DF&F 52_6 Striped Bass and Deceiver

Swing by Jason's blog to check out his Striper and Deceiver!

Tech Info - Watercolor and gouache on oatmeal paper. 10" x 12".

Look Closely. I call this One "Eye of the Striper" I have the song - "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor now playing over and over in my head.

To purchase the original, click below:

To purchase a print, click below:

Drawing Flies & Fish 52_5 Crazy Charlie

Original status: Available

Swing by Jason's blog to check out his Permit and Charlie!

Tech Info - Watercolor and gouache on oatmeal paper. 10" x 12".

Went with just the fly this time. It has been a while since I have done just a fly. Feels good. 


To purchase the original, click below:

To purchase a print, click below:

Prints are 8" x 10" reproduced on digital watercolor stock, signed and number. Each print comes with a signed certificate of authenticity.

STREAMERS 365

Be sure to swing by Streamers365 for some great feather wing eye candy! As Darren puts it:

During 2012, we will be showcasing one feather-wing streamers a day for the entire year. The concept is called 365 blogging, but if you look at a 2012 calendar, you may notice there are actually 366 days! Not to worry, we’ve been able to scrape up an extra streamer for the day. We will be auctioning off most of the streamers presented on the blog. This is a great opportunity for collectors to find some amazing streamers to add to their collection. We will also be putting together a series of books based on the streamers presented in the project. These will likely be on a quarterly basis


Link to Streamers365.

Following Along

I had to mention two fellow artist and fly fishers who are following along with Jason and I this year.

John from Iowa and his blog.

And will at Lineslinger blog.

Please swing by their blogs and check out their great work!

DF&F 52_4 Brookie and X-Caddis

Original status: Available


Swing by Jason's blog to check out his Brookie and X-Caddis!

Tech Info - Pastel on black paper. 10" x 12".

The X-Caddis is one of my favorite Summertime patterns for the Driftless area and on the Michigan's AuSable.


This one is called "Swing and a miss". I was going for an image of a quick aggressive strike, with an unfortunate miss. 


To purchase the original, click below:

To purchase prints, click below:

Prints are 8" x 10" reproduced on digital watercolor stock, signed and number. Each print comes with a signed certificate of authenticity.

DF&F 52_3 Cutthroat trout and a Chernobyl Ant

Original status: Unavailable


Swing by Jason's blog to check out his Cutt and ant!

Tech Info - Sharpie, watercolor, gouache and Photoshop on oatmeal paper. 10" x 12".

I wanted to create an image that portrayed the viewer lying on the stream bed looking up. You are seeing the fly drift, debris rushing through the water column, and then you see the trout rise. will there be a take or not? I really struggled with this one and the 30 minutes came up fast. My quick application of color turned to mud and I really struggled with the values. Every once in a while things do not come together and you just have to let go until another day. I will definitely be revisiting this one.


To Purchase Prints, click below: 

 

Prints are 8" x 10" reproduced on digital watercolor stock, signed and number. Each print comes with a signed certificate of authenticity.

DF&F 52_2 Brown Trout and Stone Fly

Original status: Available


Swing by Jason's blog to check out his Brown or Stone (artist choice)!

Tech Info - Sharpie, white pastel pencil, Photoshop on oatmeal paper. 10" x 12".

I plan on painting this image in the upcoming weeks (as a separate project).
Used a little Photoshop to darken areas of the image to create depth and a focal point.


NEXT WEEK'S SELECTION WILL BE POSTED IN SIDE BAR ON RIGHT SIDE OF THE BLOG PAGE.

To Purchase Original, click below:

To Purchase Prints, click below:

Prints are 8" x 10" reproduced on digital watercolor stock, signed and number. Each print comes with a signed certificate of authenticity.

DF&F 52_1 Rainbow and Royal Wulff

Original status: SOLD


Swing by Jason's blog to check out his Rainbow and Royal Wulff!

Tech Info - Sharpie, watercolor and gouache and pastel on oatmeal paper. 10" x 12"

The start of the New Year and the new project. 


Next week we will go with just a fly: Black Stone Fly Nymph and a Brown Trout.

To Purchase prints, click below:

Prints are 8" x 10" reproduced on digital watercolor stock, signed and number. Each print comes with a signed certificate of authenticity.

DF&F 52

Once again Jason at FF&W and I will be collaborating with the year of Drawing Fish and Flies 52 (DF&F 52).  We will be alternating between the two as we see fit. The rules from last year still apply, 30 minutes or less to create the image.

We will be posting the images on Saturday as opposed to Thursdays. We will also pre-announce the following week's image after the previous week's post so that others can join along. More on this subject later. We will also be inviting some other artists to join us on an occasional basis.

Coming up this Jan 7th is a combo Rainbow Trout and Royal Wulff. We started off last year with a rainbow, so it was only fitting to kick off this year with a bo.

I am looking forward to another fun and creative year!

Drawing Fish 52_52 Silver Trout

Original status: Available - See below for purchase links.

Swing by Jason's blog to check out his Silver Trout! 

Tech Info - Sharpie, watercolor and gouache and pastel on oatmeal paper. 10" x 12"

The extinct Silver Trout, Check out the history on Wiki. Next year's plan to follow!


Swing by Jason's blog to check out his Silver Trout!

Drawing Fish 52_51 Aurora Trout

Original status: Available - See below for purchase links.

Swing by Jason's blog to check out his Aurora Trout! Jason really nailed this one!

Tech Info - Sharpie, watercolor and gouache and pastel on oatmeal paper. 10" x 12"

Tried to get the movement that you would get with the Northern Lights. Did not quite hit what I had in mind, but it is what it is. I have never witnessed Northern Lights, but it is on my bucket list. In the meantime, here is a cool video of some Aurora's.


To Purchase the original, click below:

Driftless Caddis

The Driftless Caddis - A pattern by Jon Uhlenhop at Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters.

Drawing Fish 52_50

Original status: Available - See below for purchase links.

Swing by Jason's blog to check out his Payara!

Tech Info - Sharpie, watercolor and gouache and pastel on oatmeal paper. 10" x 12"

This is one toothy fish! I really dig the way the two lower teeth slide into the pockets in the roof of the fishes mouth when it's lower jaw closes. One of nature's cool designs!


To Purchase the original, click below:

To Purchase prints, click below:

Prints are 8" x 10" reproduced on digital watercolor stock, signed and number. Each print comes with a signed certificate of authenticity.

Alaska Trip Inspiration

Sockeye Salmon as inspired by my recent Artist In Residence trip to Bristol Bay Lodge in Alaska.

12" x 18" Watercolor, Gouache and pastel on 140# watercolor paper.

SOLD

Drawing Fish 52_49 Greenland Char

Original status: Available - See below for purchase links.

Swing by Jason's blog to check out his Greenland Char!

Tech Info - Sharpie, watercolor and gouache and pastel on oatmeal paper. 10" x 12"

Another crazy week, but it is always great to come to the studio to paint! Jason and I have been discussing what next year may bring. Stay tuned for an announcement.


To Purchase the original, click below:

To purchase prints, click below:

Prints are 8" x 10" reproduced on digital watercolor stock, signed and number. Each print comes with a signed certificate of authenticity.

DF 52_48 Brookie in hand

Original status: Donated to EDTU Chicago Chapter.

Swing by Jason's blog to see his see his Fish of the week!

Tech Info - Sharpie, watercolor and gouache on oatmeal paper. 10" x 12"

All work and no play makes my paintings way too tight! This week was artist choice for fish. So I went with a brookie in hand. Similar to the brown in hand DF 52_35.

Drawing Fish 52_47 Marble Trout

Original status: Available, 

Swing by Jason's blog to see his see his Marble Trout!

Tech Info - Sharpie, watercolor and gouache on oatmeal paper. 10" x 12"

Sorry for the late post. The day job has been extremely demanding of my time along with being out of town for Thanksgiving! Hope I am forgiven!


To Purchase Original, click below:

To Purchase Prints, click below:

Prints are 8" x 10" reproduced on digital watercolor stock, signed and number. Each print comes with a signed certificate of authenticity.

Drawing Fish 52_46 Barracuda

Original status: Available, 

Swing by Jason's blog to see his see his Barracuda!

Tech Info - Sharpie, watercolor, gouache and pastel on oatmeal paper. 10" x 12"

I dig the car, the song by Heart and the fish! Went safe with this one. A very long and tiring week at the day job has really drained the creativity out of me.

To purchase original:

To purchase prints:

Prints are 8" x 10" reproduced on digital watercolor stock, signed and number. Each print comes with a signed certificate of authenticity.