Dockside Sunrise

Dockside Sunrise

12x16, soft pastel

Back to my boat theme.  With this piece, I had to do quite a bit by memory.  Two years ago I painted a smaller version of this scene en plein air.   But, I made a rooky plein air mistake and didn't take a photograph of the scene before leaving the lake.  So, I had to recall some of the details that I had missed when I painted the first piece.   I was drawn to this particular scene because I loved how the sunlight from the early morning sunrise lit the tips of the kayaks casting jagged sunlight onto the waters below.  It was a gorgeous September morning at Redfish Lake.  One I will always remember.

Yellow Belly - Oil

Yellow Belly - Oil

6x6, oil on board

Day 3 of 30...this closeup of a boat in the harbor is as "loose" as I can paint.   My tendency is to paint too precisely and (you would think) painting precisely would be harder than painting loosely...but au contraire...not the case at all!   So, the next time you see a painting that's painted loosely...consider the difficulty and admire the artist's finese!    A little tidbit....the boat's lettering really wasn't FYI in really life...but I liked it, so it stuck.  A little FYI about this piece.

Dancing Reflections

Dancing Reflections

9x12, soft pastel 

I so enjoyed the 2016 Plein Air Festival in Door County, Wi.  Unfortunately, my trip was cut short...but not before I could visit Gordon Lodge for a second time at sunrise.  On this morning, the featured artists weren't there...just me...and a gentleman quietly fishing from the shoreline.  It was so very quiet and peaceful as the sun rose and reflections danced across the water.   I hope to return to this magical place someday.

Hedgehog Gift Shop

Hedgehog Gift Shop

6x8, soft pastel

Day one of the 2016 Door County Wi. Plein Air Festival.   I came mostly to watch the pros...but I couldn't resist a little practice time. What a gorgeous time of year to be on the peninsula!

The Hedgehog Gift Shop is in Gills Rock near the top of the peninsula.  A very cute shop on the water. If you know me, you know I couldn't resist the colors!

Copper John - Yellow Belly

Copper John - Yellow Belly

5x7, soft pastel

To me, this little Copper John variation looks a bit like a Yellow Sally Nymph..so I named it Yellow Belly.  Tomorrow,  maybe a landscape is in order.

Be Mine

Be Mine

5x7, soft pastel

Well, a new month begins and after all of those fishing flies I just had to default to a small bouquet of flowers (something a bit more girly).  My favorite composition is one where there's an elevated L shape thing going on...which there is in this one (the table top and the stripe down the right side).  

This is a painting I've been thinking of for a few months...ever since I purchased a couple new kitchen towels.  It's no mistake there's a couple of red stripes running through it...my favorite color.

Be Mine is going to Flying M, a local coffee shop where there's an annual silent auction to benefit the research and cure of AIDS.   If you're in the area, be sure and go check out all the fabulous artwork on display!  There will be quite a variety of works on hand. 

Fly 28 - Double Bead Nymph

Double Bead Nymph

5x7, soft pastel

Did I mention earlier that the Copper John fly pattern is considered a wet fly as well as an attractor?  The weight of the nymph head allows this tiny fly to sink quickly to the bottom (especially with this double beaded version)...where the big fish lay waiting!

This particular nymph was tied by a friend, Clint Shiflet, and given to my husband to try out.  Apparently it's pretty effective...Vic may be tying a few more of these little guys. 

Fly 21 - Orange Flamethrower

Orange Flamethrower

5x9, soft pastel

I've been painting all the flies in this series in a 5x7 format.  However, this Orange Flamethrower just demanded a longer size to accommodate its gorgeous tail.  

The Flamethrower is another tube style salmon fly, this time with a double hook.  I couldn't find my original source for this particular fly...but I know the guys at The Canadian Tube Fly Company could set you up with the supplies to tie this beauty! 

Fly 19 - Yellow Sally Stone Fly Nymph

Yellow Sally Stonefly Nymph

5x7, soft pastel

The Yellow Sally Stonefly nymph is a proven success at attracting trout in fast freestone rivers and streams across the U.S., or any other place where stoneflies are found.  This fly should be fished in riffles, pockets and pools.

The most fascinating fact about the stonefly nymph is their intolerance for polluted waters. An abundance of these little guys in a body of water (the actual nymph not the fishing fly) indicates good or excellent water quality.  Which is a good thing for us all!

Fly 16 - Olive Elk Hair Caddis

Olive Elk Hair Caddis

5x7, soft pastel

Day 16 is the beginning of the second half of the month...and I spent a portion of the day reflecting on the first 15 days.  I really wanted to take another stab at the Elk Hair Caddis.  While the first one was accurate, it had a light background and from an artistic viewpoint...it was bland.


I began with different paper which is new to me but a common pastel paper, Sennelier's Pastel Card in Charcoal.  This time, I left the background alone, chose an Olive Elk Hair Caddis and just focused on the fly.  I was quite happy with it until I showed my husband who had a puzzled look on his face since he'd never used a green Elk Hair Caddis...oh well...I know there are some out there somewhere! 

Fly 14 - Red Special

Red Special

5x7, soft pastel

Red Special (Deschutes River Dee) was designed by Oregon fly fisherman and tyer Andrew Marshall. The married wings is an element more familiar in Classic Atlantic Salmon flies and adds a classic touch to these flies which look very effective. Monte Smith of Northwest Fly Tyer tied this particular "Red Special".

Dees can be confused with Speys as they look similar. Speys (see Fly #3) were introduced in the 1800's for fishing the River Spey In Scotland. The Dees were introduced on the River Dee in Scotland.

The one big difference between these two flies is the wing style. The Spey typically sports a bronze mallard feather wing that sits low along the hook shank while the Dee wing is split and somewhat drooping along the hook shank and, is generally made with a turkey feather. 

Fly 13 - Deep Dish Callibaetis

Deep Dish Callibaetis

5x7, soft pastel

A gorgeous fly created a few years ago by Curtis Fry (www.flyfood.com) is the Deep Dish Callibaetis which is a mayfly nymph.  This fly looks like it would be a very effective little fly.

Curtis says the idea behind this pattern was to make a somewhat realistic representation of the natural fly that could be tied in a variety of colors and sizes with a focus on the two-toned nature of callibaetis, the pronounced gills on the abdomen and the sparkley-ness of the emerging insects.  

Check out Curtis’s YouTube video where he demonstrates tying this fly.  He was much faster at tying it than I was at painting it!  

Fly 11 - The Little Brown Trout

The Little Brown Trout

5x7, soft pastel

The Little Brown Trout fly was originated by Samuel R. Slaymaker II of Gap, Pennsylvania.  There are several trout flies attributed to Mr. Slaymaker in his streamer series.  All of these flies are effective flies while fishing for trout using a stripping action.  What is a stripping action you ask?   No, stripping isn’t disrobing and wearing your birthday suit while fishing…it’s the action of pulling the line in (after casting it out) in a quick methodical pace several inches at a time.   The resulting jerking action of the streamer fly really gets the trout's attention.

Fly 10 - Jungle Hornet

Jungle Hornet

5x7, soft pastel

The Jungle Hornet is a grub style fly.  Tied by Monte Smith, this little guy looks like a bug I hope to never encounter!   Grub style salmon files are among the earliest of the various types of flies used in the 19th century.  

And that’s all I know about that!

Fly 9 - Royal Wulff

Royal Wulff

5x7, soft pastel

Well, yesterday I had wished I painted the Elk Hair Caddis on black...so today I played with a black background.   I don't know if I'll keep it up...but it does jump out at ya!

Mr. Lee Wulff revolutionized fly fishing and fly tying with his Wulff series.  These flies were one of the first ever invented using hair instead of natural feathers for wings and tails.

The Royal Wulff is a go-to trout fly in my neck of the woods.  In the Mountain West the Royal Wulff represents the flying red ant hatches that appear during the months of August and September. Although, when asked what they represented Mr. Wulff replied smiling: "...not any one natural insect but more like a dessert...something after the main course, like Strawberry shortcake...something great big and juicy floating down the river."

Darn, now I need a sweet treat!

Fly 7 - Red Copper John

Red Copper John

5x7, soft pastel

I couldn't resist painting a second Copper John...this one with red wire and a bit more wing detail.  Not only do I like this little nymph...but I love it's name.  Although, I have to admit I kept calling it a Copper Bob for the first day or two...that is until my husband corrected me (oh well). 

Fly 5 - Thunder and Lightening

Thunder and Lightening

5x7, soft pastel

I couldn’t find a lot of information on this particular Atlantic Salmon fly except to say there are several versions of flies called Thunder and Lightening. The Atlantic Salmon Thunder and Lightening was originated by James Wright around 1850 and can be tied as a featherwing or hairwing version (this one being a featherwing).  

Thank you Klaus Woggon for this beautiful example of a Thunder and Lightening Atlantic Salmon fly.

Merry Christmas!

Today I had two paintings to wrap up...one, is an acrylic on canvas (24x30 inch) of Scooter "A Warm Place By The Window".  This is a painting you may be familiar with that I thought I'd attempt to paint much larger...and in acrylic no less (a medium which I seldom use and am not proficient at).  It turned out well enough to put up in my studio at least until I decide if it's actually finished.

The second painting is a gift....(I'm hoping I'm not giving it away)...after all, Christmas is a day away but I'm betting this recipient isn't subscribing to my blog.

Atlantic Salmon Fly

5x7, soft pastel

Hollyhocks 2

Hollyhocks 2

12x9 soft pastel

For some reason I failed to share this second Hollyhocks painting (the first one was completed last May).  I love this scene...it was captured on an early morning walk in Door County, Wi.  I just had to try it again.  It hangs in my house and I love it...must be the vibrant colors!

Amaryllis

Amaryllis

10x8, soft pastel

This past week was crazy busy but I managed to find time to paint at the greenhouse along with a few of my plein air buddies.  Although it was a bit cold, I was able to persevere long enough to paint a flower (red of course). Not liking it at all...but that's how it goes!