Art Supports Fly Fishing Education

As an avid fly fisher, my mission is to cultivate the next generation of fly fishers. To achieve this, I have established a group called the Lineworkers.

In collaboration with the Deer Creek Sports and Conservation Club, we will develop educational programs that align with the standards of Fly Fishers International. These programs aim to teach young people the art and skills of fly fishing.

To support this initiative, a portion of my art sales will be donated to the Lineworkers program. Your purchase not only brings home a beautiful piece of art but also helps foster a new generation of fly fishers.

I have been in a bit of quandary lately about which direction to spend my time: Painting or Fly Fishing.

I have spent about 20 years practicing watercolor and of course I still can’t get it right. Well there is no right, so I guess I just keep practicing.

I have only practiced Fly Fishing for five years and of course I still can’t get it right. Well there is no right, so I just need to keep practicing.

Watercolor sometimes wains in my attention, however when I haven’t painted for a while, I have a huge desire to get put some paint on paper.

I do have a passion for fly fishing, but it isn’t always practical to go fishing. I love to share this sport with others and that has become a mission with the Lineworkers fly fishing education program.

What is interesting is the watercolor paintings related to fly fishing inspire my fishing and fishing in turn inspires my watercolor. So in essence, these two cannot be separated or there will be a creative hole in my life.

Tale of Two Sisters Has a New Home

I believe that art has a destiny that is out of my control. This painting has taken me on a journey that was not on my vision board.

It started with the catch of a lifetime, my first trout on the fly. Once I was bitten by the trout bug, I also wanted to paint these wonderful creations.

Know your subject is very important to artists, so I sought out opportunities to catch and visualize live trout. When

 I saw the photo of the two trout tails on Instagram from the sisters who started Addicted to the Fly, I asked for permission, and they gave it providing I give them a print.

My crazy mind decided I should take the print to Montana in person and meet these sisters. Unfortunately, when I had time to travel they did not, but they gave me the name of an outfitter I arranged a fly fishing guided trip. Off we went in our car on a cross-country trip to Craig, Montana.

Our housing was wonderful and when we met our guide, Jeff Rieger we knew we had the perfect person for our trout adventure.

He had two beautiful daughters, and they provided the best sweets for our 6-hour trip on the Missouri. We thanked Jeff after he dropped us off from our glorious day. We never imagined seeing him again.

The next year as Dave and I considered another possible trout adventure, we both agreed the best and easiest thing to do was to revisit Craig and have Jeff guide us for two days. It all worked out perfectly. We had the most wonderful two days. We met one of his daughters and what a treat.

We also had the opportunity to meet Sunny, one of the Addicted to the Fly, sisters who had caught one of the trout in the painting.

On my way home, I just kept thinking about the “Tale of Two Sisters” and I didn’t think anyone in Wisconsin would have the same attraction to this painting. I knew it had to go back to Montana where the fish were caught. Since we love Jeff so much and he had an anniversary soon and he had two sisters in his home that love to fly fish, I knew the destiny of the painting would be in his home and a new Tale will unfold.

You don’t always have to have a custom painting to trigger a memory.  Look over the paintings in the Art Shop and find one that might tell your story.