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Jason Borger (whose credentials would take an entire post to list!) at Fish Fles and Water and I are going to collaborate on a new project starting January 1st. We are going to draw the same fly on the same day of the week. We will post those flies to our respective blogs every Thursday. Each fly will be our own interpretation that neither of us will see until we post it. The idea is to create a collaboration hosted by two artists who love to illustrate the same subject matter. To keep the project fun we are going to limit ourselves to 30 minutes total drawing time for each fly. That is more than enough time for me to get into creative trouble!
Blurb is offering $10 off either version of my new book! Enter the following code at checkout to receive the discount! Hurry, offer is valid until December 31st. Click here to preview and order the bookOrders from the US (using US $): GREATGIFT
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"Bead Head Woolly Bugger" 
"Cassi's Tribute- Art on Skin" I received an email about a week back from Cassi asking permission to use a fly for a tattoo. I have had other request for use of fly art for tattoos, but Cassi has been the only one to not only follow through, but to send a picture of the art immediately after it's completion. Cassi used No. 363 as her choice of body art. Now for the coolest part of the story. Cassi had this tattoo done as a tribute to her grandfather. Here is what Cassi had to say about her life and her Grandpa: "My entire family lives in LA and I spent time with my Grandpa deep sea fishing for tuna and fishing for bass in Newport. I have been fishing with him since middle school. It has been the best time of my life. When my granpa turned 59, he retired from Lockheed and moved to Oregon to learn to fly fish. He unexpectedly passed away one year after moving to Oregon. Three years ago I moved to Oregon into my grandfathers house. A good friend of mine took me on a fly fishing raft trip. We were not that successful, but we had an awesome experience. This is what it must have felt like to my Grandpa to learn something new." I am extremely grateful that my art can help create a lasting memory for someone who had a great love of fishing and for his family. B.C. You have a fantastic Grandaughter who now has artwork inscribed in your memory.
"Respect The Fly" This was a collaboration between Steve at Fishing Florida Radio and yours truely. We ended up with one kick ass fly! Check out respect the fly.com to order a cool camo hat and more to come! I really enjoy working on these graphic representation images of flies. Kind of like fly team mascots!
"Seaducer" Watercolor and Gouache.
I would like to introduce my blog readers to a project that I am proud to be a part of. That project would be the Fishy Kid.org site. I was asked to be one of the artists to submit artwork for the kids coloring book project. This site is the brain child of Cameron (from Fiberglass Manifesto) and Kevin (Red Dirt Studio). Here is a brief description of the project:
"Emulator Sculpin" - Watercolor and gouache. Dave P. (Speymaster and fly fishing guide extraordinaire), called a few weeks back and requested a commission painting. Dave was invited to Michigan guide Kevin Feenstra's wedding and wanted to give Kevin and his bride a unique gift. Kevin guides in West Michigan and his known for his Sculpin pattern and many other flashy steelhead patterns. Dave requested a painting of Kevin's signature pattern the Emulator Sculpin. This was the result. Dave called me last night to let me know that the Happy newly weds really enjoyed his gift. Congrat Kevin!
"Napkin Fly" Sharpie and gouache on napkin. I happen to be sitting outside eating my lunch one fine afternoon when fly inspiration struck. I pulled out my trusty Sharpie and started to sketch. When I returned to the studio that evening, I enhanced the sketch with a bit of gouache.
"Sheri's Fly" 18" x 22" Watercolor and Gouache
I have created a set of wallpaper images which you can download to your iTouch or iPhone. Get the entire set free here. Download the Drawing Flies 365 Wallpaper set.
"LEFTY ONE" Watercolor, Sharpie and Gouache. Thanks to all who sent emails and comments! It is greatly appreciated. Well, here is the update. I had a complete tear of the rotator cuff. 4 surgical sutcher screws were inserted and used to repair the cuff arthroscopically. 6 insertion pointss around my shoulder were used to repair the cuff. I also had a frayed bicep tendon. The Doc performed a Bicep Tenodesis. Normal attachment of the biceps tendon is on the shoulder socket and reattaches the tendon to the bone of the humerus (arm bone). By performing a biceps tenodesis, the pressure of the bicpes attachment is taken off the cartilage rim of the shoulder socket (the labrum), and a portion of the biceps tendon can be surgically removed. Essentially a biceps tenodesis moves the attachment of the biceps tendon to a position that is out of the way of the shoulder joint. The tendon is reattached lower on the bone using a screw. Along with general anasthetic, I was also given a nerve block in the right arm. This keeps the arm numb anywhere between 6 to 12 hours. The arm was still nice and numb after surgery due to the block. After the block wore off, a hell broke loose. The pain was incredible. The pain meds had little effect. I did not sleep for 24 hours. Each day has been better. Went to the Doc yesterday to have the staples removed from the port incesions. The staples still remain on the big incesion. The bicep on my arm is completely bruised. looks like it eas beat with a sledge hammer. Physcial therapy begins next week. I am so bored with TV and movies. I felt decent enogh this morning to hit the studio. I grabbed my watercolor sketchbook and a Sharpie and started to draw with the left hand. Not the greatest, I kept my expectations low as was just glad to be drawing and painting again. Grabbed the watercolor brush aand stated laying down washes. This is much easier with the left hand then the drawing portion. I practiced signing my name on a scrap piece of paper using my left hand. As you can see, I opted form my initials. My dear wife has been an incedible help throught this process. I Love her dearly and could not have done this without her.
Bad News - Tomorrow I will be having surgery on my right shoulder to repair a torn rotator cuff and a frayed bicep tendon. Since I am right handed, my painting and drawing will be put on hold for a while. Depending on the extent of the recuperation period, I may try my hand at painting left handed. May be a fun and interesting way to pass some time while being laid up. I am hoping for a quick and miraculous recovery!
I just wanted to post a brief book update. The book is coming along, slowly. I am in the throws of sizing all of the images, which is a bigger task than expected. Needless to say, I should have a preview of the book available in the next two weeks. At the release of the preview, I will have a firm release date for the book! Thanks for waiting.
"Red Quill" Pen , Ink and watercolor. Just a quick sketch to post. I have a number of others I have been working on and will post them shortly.
Working on the Shanaynay
There is always a joker in the crowd! That's my buddy Corey giving me the Peace Sign or rabbit ears or maybe he wants 2 paintings done.
"Shanaynay" This is an original pattern by Joseph at One More Cast. I created this painting as a demo at the MidWest Flyfishing Expo this past weekend. There is an interesting story to this fly. If you would like to know more, drop Joseph a line.
"Flats Bunny" Watercolor and Gouache. This fly was created for the winner of the monthly drawing for Boodreaux's Boondocques ESPN radio show at Florida Fishing Radio. The January winner was Jason H. and the fly he requested was the Flats Bunny. Here you go Jason and Congrats!
Brook is a project that was conceived a few years back. I really admire the work of Varga and Gil Elvgren. Their ability to render the human form while telling an incredible story from their images set the wheels in motion to create Brook. The one area of drawing and painting that I would like to improve on is the human form. I would like to take some life drawing classes and work on my gouache renderings of the human body. My goal is to create a calendar with brook in various fishing situations. landing a trout, sunning herself in a float tube while catching blugill or fighting a leaping tarpon are just some of the ideas.
