Limited Edition Prints Available at ARTCREEL."Fuzzy Fiber Bait Fish" 17" x 12" Watercolor and gouache. I will be producing a series of saltwater patterns for an upcoming project. This is the first and from what I hear, a tarpon favorite.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Guest Fly Artist - Kevin Powell
"Gooey Green Meanie" I challenged Kevin to come up with a fly in the few spare moments that he has. He constructed this excellent fly using some of his kids toys. I hope he did it during nap time! For those of you who are not familiar with Kevin, He started Red Dirt Studio."Red Dirt Studio is a place for people to hang out, share and build memories. It is a community of like minded individuals who enjoy the simpler things in life - good art, good music, good food and quality time in the outdoors. This community is built around a "Front Porch" philosophy of thinking and sharing. Like times of old, when people use to sit around and talk about their favorite memories, telling tall tale fishing stories or talking about the good dive where they sat and drank that cup of coffee on the way to their hidden destination. it is all about the journey."
A lot of fun stuff happening in the forum. So stop by and check it out!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
No. 241
"Silver Darter" 20" x 13" Watercolor and gouache. This is a Lew Oatman pattern submitted by Chris. As far as I am concerned, Chris is the authority on streamer patterns. The man knows everything about streamers and can tie them! Check out his site when you have the opportunity. You will not be disappointed.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
No. 239
"Salt Sketch" Just a quick get to know the fly sketch. I am working on some saltwater patterns for an upcoming project which will be revealed at a later date.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The working Man's ( or Women's) fly
No matter what career you hold down, I challenge you to send me your career and I will somehow magically create a fly which describes your career. Every career That I paint, draw or post will receive the original! Get your career in now! offer ends September 15th! To email me your job and or career, click here.
No. 238
"Potato Stamp" Do you remember when you were a kid and made potato stamps? This is my attempt at a fly potato stamp. I know it is kind of like a roreshock test for fly fisherman to see the fly. The funny thing is that I did not notice the little hand flipping the bird at the back of the tail until I scanned it. I guess that is a salute to all of the fish that I have missed hooking up with. There is no way I could have carved that in. It was hard enough getting the carving of the mediocre fly in as it is.
No. 236
'Yupo Experiment 2" I laid down this blue background on Yupo. I wanted it to have a wter appearance. I pulled color out and added gouache. I originally drew the fly with a Sharpie. I Sharpie pulled off the surface once I started to lift tio get whites. I originally had a saltwater fly drwn, but somehow it ended up being a steelhead fly. More experimentation.
No. 235
"Bunny Diver Experiment" Watecolor and gouache on Yupo paper. I pulled out the Yupo do do a bit of experimenting again. Yupo is a white polyester paper. I can apply watercolor to it, but as soon as I wet it, the color will smear or pickup. There are no pores or surface to absorb the pigment. I started by just laying down different colors on the sheet. Straight bright color, no water if you do it becomes very dull. The cool thing is that if you do not like what you did, just take a damp rag and wipe it off and start over. Some of the white area I lifted the color out. I am not sure that I like this piece. A bit to busy, but hey, that's what experimenting trying things out is all about. This fly looks like some sort of bird with some sort of weird hackle growing out of it's ear.
No. 233
"White and Orange Free Form" Another gouache over watercolor background. No particular pattern, just grabbed the brush, started painting and see what formed. A fun exercise!
No. 232
"Purple and Orange" Just a quick free form steel head fly. I am getting the itch for Fall Steel head. Had a sheet of watercolor paper with a background on it. I just pulled out the gouache and went at it. No plan just painting.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Drawing Flies 365 in American Angler
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I am creating a series of exclusive flies for the Headwaters Section of American Angler. I am creating flies for the next six issues. These flies can only be found in the magazine, so sign up for a subscription or head down to your local bookseller.
I am creating a series of exclusive flies for the Headwaters Section of American Angler. I am creating flies for the next six issues. These flies can only be found in the magazine, so sign up for a subscription or head down to your local bookseller.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
No. 228
"G.D." 14" x 12" Watercolor and gouoache. Submitted by David M. Also known as the Jack Cabe Hopper.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Caught up
I had to go to my calendar to see what day it was. According to my calculations it is the 227th day of the year. So I am finally caught up from vacations and workshops! Now back to the business of painting some flies from the studio. I have a few commission paintings that I am working on and will post them soon.
No 225
"The G.D." Sepia pen and sketch paper. This is a quick study for a painting that will be completed on the subject. Hang tight David Mac.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Drawing Flies 365 in Croatia
Recently, I was interviewed by Aleksandar V. for Sportski Ribolov - A Croatian Fly Fishing Magazine. This is a very nicely done piece. You can read the translated copy here.
Monday, August 11, 2008
No. 220
"Mattress Thrasher" Sepia ink and sketch paper. Of course, I cannot spell it correctly on my sketch! This is a sudo stimulator pattern that I use on the Ausable.
No. 219
"Inverted mayfly" sepia on sketchbook paper - I do not know if that is the technical name for the fly, but, i caught quite a few trout on the AuSable using this fly during the evenings. If someone has the correct technical name for this fly, drop me an email.
No. 217
"The Patriot" The patriot is a searching pattern that I picked up at Gates AuSable Lodge. It has produced numerous times time the AuSable River.
No. 216
"Generic Chute" Sepia pen on sketch book . Just a generic parachute.I love parachute patterns. Just do not let my wife know!!!
No. 215
"River God Emerger Slate Wing Olive" Sepia ink and sketch pad - A Dennis Potter pattern from the AuSable river.
No. 214
"Hopper Time" Sepia pen on sketch paper - late Summer in the Midwest is my favorite time to fish hoppers on the trout stream. Their body structure is the coolest thing to observe! This hopper pattern is from the latest issue of Midwest Fly Fishing. I needed some fresh material and the latest issue came just in time.
No. 212
"September Song" Sepia pen on sketch paper - Another Blue ribbon fly pattern. You will see a future color version of this fly.
No. 211
"X- Caddis" Sepia Pen on sketch paper - This is one of my all time favorite go to flies. I have caught so many trout using this pattern.
No. 208
"General Manager" Sepia pen on sketch paper - This a Pattern from our trip to Yellowstone. I had the opportunity to stop in at Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone. This is one of the many signature flies that they have created.
Drawing Flies is back in the studio!
Drawing Flies 365 is back with a massive download of flies. It has been a crazy month, with last week spent at a watercolor workshop. I had my sketchbook and a few fly boxes with me so I could sketch. Hold on to your mouse, here come the flies!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
On the Road Again
No not the song, Drawingflies 365 will be in limbo for a week while I attend a Watercolor Workshop. I will be without internet access, but will be doing my daily flies during the evenings and will post them upon my return. It will feel good to concentrate on nothing but watercolor and get some good brush mileage in. I will have pictures when I get back. See you all back here in a week! Thanks for visiting.
Blog Award
I received this blog award from both Sandy at my fiddlestix Sue at her blog ...from Maine.
According to the rules of acceptance, I am to nominate 7 other blogs. So here they are:
Jared Shear at Terrapeer
Woody Hansen at All Things Watercolor
Nathan Fowkes at Nathan Fowkes Art
Larry Seiler at Painting From Life
Jason Seiler at It's Funny Because it's True
Jame Gurney at Gurney Journey
Eric Tiemens at Virtual Gouacheland
Blogs of Note
My friend and artist, Rod Crossman has two blogs that are worth spending some time at. They are Painting Stories and Deer Creek Eddy. Also check out his Fireside Sketches video series. If you are an artist or someone interested in art, you definitely need to watch these!
And the winner is....
The winner for the Month of July's drawings is.... Corey T. I will send you an email with the details for your free print. Congratulations.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
No. 207
"Yellowstone Ranger" From my field sketchbook. When we are on the Yellowstone river, there were zillions of these salmon flies in the air. They were so thick you could cut the air with a knife. If I had tying materials with me I would have tied this baby up as I sketched it. The body on these flies is a bright orange red color with 2 distinct band segments in the thorax. The Cutts were rolling on the surface sucking these babies down. This fly is dedicated to the Yellowstone Park Rangers.