Art Supports Fly Fishing Education

As a passionate fly fisher, I am dedicated to nurturing the next generation of enthusiasts in this sport. For this purpose, I’ve founded a group known as the Lineworkers.

Working alongside the Deer Creek Sports and Conservation Club, we’re crafting educational programs that adhere to the guidelines of Fly Fishers International. Our goal is to impart the art and techniques of fly fishing to the youth.

To bolster this endeavor, a share of the proceeds from my art sales will contribute to the Lineworkers program. When you make a purchase, you not only acquire a stunning piece of art but also play a role in encouraging young fly fishers.

Lately, I’ve been pondering whether to devote my time to painting or fly fishing.

I’ve dedicated roughly 20 years to watercolor painting, and I still haven’t mastered it. But since there’s no definitive ‘right’ way, I suppose continuous practice is the key.

Fly fishing has been my pursuit for five years, and similarly, I haven’t perfected it. Again, with no absolute ‘right’ way, the answer lies in persistent practice.

My interest in watercolor fluctuates; however, after a break, I find myself yearning to splash paint on paper.

My enthusiasm for fly fishing is strong, yet it’s not always feasible to fish. Sharing this sport through the Lineworkers fly fishing education program has become my mission.

Interestingly, my desire to turn memories into art  with watercolor paintings of fly fishing scenes fuel my passion for the sport, and the act of fishing enhances my art. They are intertwined, and separating them would leave a void in my creativity.

Art often charts its own course, and this painting led me down an unexpected path. It began with my first trout caught on the fly—a pivotal moment igniting my passion for depicting these magnificent fish.

Compelled to understand my subject intimately, I embarked on a mission to study trout closely. A photograph by the Addicted to the Fly sisters resonated with me, prompting me to reach out. With their consent, I transformed that memory into art and sent them a print, anticipating a straightforward exchange.

However, destiny had other ideas. I opted to meet them and planned a trip to Montana to personally hand over the print. Although the sisters were unavailable, they suggested a local guide. My husband and I journeyed to Craig, Montana, where we encountered our guide, Jeff Rieger, and his hospitable family, who offered homemade delights for our six-hour drift on the Missouri River. By the trip’s conclusion, we had found not only an ideal guide but also a friend.

The next year, a return was inevitable, and Jeff guided us on another remarkable adventure. We met one of the sisters who had inspired the painting, bringing the experience full circle in an enchanting manner.

On our drive home, I understood that the painting did not belong with me. Its home was in Montana, with Jeff and his daughters, in the place that had enriched me so profoundly. Art, it seems, has a sense of its rightful home.

“Shore Lunch” 

I was ecstatic to learn that my artwork had been chosen for the 2024 SIM exhibition “L’arte della pesca…la pesca nell’arte” in Castel di Sangro, Italy. The thought of one of my pieces displayed in a museum, particularly in Italy, was beyond my wildest dreams. It presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit and be part of the World Fly Fishing Festival.