DF52 Payara. Wanted something that felt like a prehistoric or even alien nightmare. A fish that the fossil record might reveal, a fish that has a singular, unwavering purpose, a fish that might have been beamed in from another galaxy. The fact that you can go and catch these on flies makes the image feel [...]

DF52 Greenland char. Only a week late. No excuses, just feeling a little tired. Went for a look of night and aurora, and the shape of fins and spots. Tough piece to paint due to the charcoal drawing (charcoal is all too easily turned into “watercolor”). I like this approach, but would prefer, I think, [...]

A little bit of Photoshoppery on another of Bill Sherer’s massive musky flies—this time a Figure 8 that also happens to be fly 10.19 in the upcoming Long Flies book. The original is 9.5 inches long (and is not purple, of course). I just felt that the fly looked cool (literally) in inverse colors, a la my “Icethroat [...]

There be trout in that water… As noted in a previous post, Kel and I did a little small-stream scouting over the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition to the streamside images of rocks and weeds that you’ve already seen, I promised something a bit more fishy. Decided to get “old-timey” and sepia-tone with the trees and [...]

After Jeff’s brutal week 47 (he mumbled something about 30-hours straight when we talked on the phone yesterday), we decided that today’s fish was to be whatever we wanted—anything goes! I decided to do a rather general “salmonid.” In other words, a fish that could be a lot of fish: trout, salmon, char, whatever falls [...]

Within the Jazz & Fly Fishing Shadow Cast Competition (that I recently finished judging with an iron fist), there was one entry that stood out in a way that I had not expected. It came from the guys at Fly Society Belgium, and is, to my eye, simply beautiful. When you see it, you realize [...]

Yeah, I know, DF52 week 41 is not in order (this is week 48), but I was thinking about big, late-season streamers, and had to re-post this. This Yellowstone Sculpin is vying to be my favorite from last year, and it is for sure in my top-five. I did one commission based on this painting, [...]

Forgive the image quality, had to get this into my system using a point-and-shoot instead of my usual scanner. This one is for my friends in Europe, in particular those of you in the northern Adriatic area (and your gorgeous, jewel-like waters). I like the marble trout for a a number of reasons, not the [...]

This Blue-Butt Caddis was last year’s week 47 image from the DF(flies) 52 project. It was chosen in memory of the late Tom Helgeson. Check out the full post for more about the fly and Tom. This year’s week 47 image will be a marble trout (due tomorrow, but with the holiday and all, it [...]

So, I was just sitting here working on the latest book project and Kel pops her head in and asks, “Where’s your barracuda?” To which I replied, “Barra…?” Yeah, out of sight, out of brush, or some other BS like that. Anyway, 30 speed-brush minutes later, here you go. This ‘cuda is based on one [...]

Due to popular demand (well, one person), I am offering my “Icethroat Trout” painting as a computer desktop/wallpaper image for FF&W readers. Just download the appropriate size for your monitor (right-click or ctrl-click on the link, depending on your system), and you’ll have the Icethroat you need. As you can see, I’m offering nine sizes for download. [...]

For fly-fishing veterans on this day: a red, white and blue ‘bow. One of my recent black and white photos of a Tennessee rainbow, tinted in Photoshop using red, white and blue “paint” (with some gold for the fin). Just a way to acknowledge sacrifice and to say “thanks.”

Drawing Flies 52 dorado (mahi-mahi). Had to go digital on this one, since it was the only way I could get the effects I was after quickly enough (and without splattering my office with paint). Notes: For this fish, I was working in Adobe Illustrator start-to-finish. To save myself some time, I grabbed a number [...]

DF52 snook. Decided to go for pure form this time. A few minutes in Illustrator and done. Not all DF52 fish need to go the full 30!