The Heron

What possesses a person to spend all day on a frozen lake?  For me it’s the thought of pulling in a Northern Pike by hand.  I don’t fish for perch, crappie or gills through the ice.  I put out a few tip-ups and kick back.  My nephew Garrett joined me this weekend.  He brought his girlfriend who has never been ice fishing before.  I wanted to show her a Pike badly.  When a flag finally went up I was happy for me, but also happy that Lacie would get to see a Pike.  But, fishing trips don’t always end happily.  I lost the Pike when bringing him in.  Actually, I think when he bolted for the weeds the line tangled and probably ripped the minnow out before I even had a chance to set the hook. When I did set the hook it felt like a snag, and not that noticable throb that you feel when you hook a Pike.  I’ll add another chapter to my book titled, “The one that got Away”.  It’s good cold therapy anyway.  My house doesn’t feel cold anymore.  It feels comfortably warm, and I know I’ll sleep good tonight.

I sketched out a few ants on my lunch break today.  A black ant is easy to draw, but printing a black ant may not be so easy.  I think the easiest way is to make a simplified two dimensional rendition similar to my “Caja de Mosca” print.  But, that’s not what I had in mind for this fly.  I’m going to attempt some techniques that I rarely use.  It’s Dremel tool time!  You gotta love using power tools to make art.

One down…eleven to go.  This is the first print of the Dirty Dozen project.  The DD project is about making one print every 12 days until I make 12 prints.  The subjects are my favorite flies.  This one is a Pheasant Tail Nymph.  After this spends a week or so drying it will get painted with watercolor.  While this guy is on the hanger, I’ll start working on sketches for the next fly.  What’s it going to be???? Honestly I’m not sure.  I have my Dirty Dozen flies picked out, but I’m not sure which one to do next.  I’ll think about it tomorrow when I’m tying flies with friends.

Technical Stuff:

Paper-Rives BFK

Ink- Akua Color

Wood- Shina plywood

Tools-  Flexcut and Namisei

Press-  Richeson Baby Press

The wood was treated with Elmers Carpenter Glue (PVA) and sanded prior to cutting.  I’ve been experimenting with PVA and Shellac.  The glue method is definitely easier.  And, I think it may have worked better as far as clean up.  I’m still experiencing a lot of chipping with the Shina plywood.  Since I have very few pieces left I’m not too concerned.  I intend to buy some thicker plywood and some Cherry.  I’m really curious how the Cherry will cut.  I’ve yet to cut into solid wood.  If you asked me how I feel about this print I probably wouldnt say much.  It’s definitely a “just do it” print.  I could have spent more time working on the composition.  I could have been more careful with cutting.  But, I didn’t.  Which is why this print fits the theme perfectly.  It’s a down and dirty print.  Eleven more to go.

K and I purchased a new Canon Powershot SD1200 IS the other day.  I thought I would experiment with it a little bit this morning by creating a photo reference for my Pheasant Tail woodblock print.  So I pulled out a Pheasant Tail from my fly tying box and picked out a Pheasant Tail nymph out of my flybox and shot this simple composition.  I positioned the fly by sticking the hook into the shaft of the feather.  I don’t think I can take credit for the fly because I’m not sure if I tied this one or not?  I may have purchased it from Gates AuSable Lodge in Grayling, MI or from the Little River Outfitters in Townsend, TN.  Those are the only two places I purchase flies if I don’t tie them myself.

You may be wondering how I’m going to use the photo for the woodblock?  There are several ways to transfer an image like this to a block of wood.  Using carbon paper for example is a popular method.  I have used it in the past but I wont need it for this.  This image is pretty straight forward.  And, I prefer to sketch directly on the block for most of the prints I make anyway.  This photo simply creates a blueprint for the direction of my cuts.  And, that’s about all I’ll use it for, besides using it here.

Ok, I gave myself 12 days to make a Pheasant Tail woodcut.  I started this “Dirty Dozen” project on January 2nd.  That means I have 6 more days left.  I have about 3 or 4 pages of doodles.  I decided I better pick a doodle and start cutting by tomorrow.  This is the doodle I chose (right).  It’s basically a Pheasant Tail Nymph on a Pheasant Tail feather.  I know…not very creative, BUT I’m going with it.  I’ve got a deadline to meet.  AND honestly….we’re getting our first good snow of the year now and I’m dying to get out to do some cross-country skiing.  AND…I also thought about going ice fishing this weekend…ha!  Soooo, this is it.  It shouldnt take long to cut on a 4×6 piece of shina plywood.  I should be able to print this with no problems in the next 6 days…..unless the Pike are really active…and then all bets are off.

Looking back on 2009 I got away from the things I love most.  One of the things I love is fly fishing.  Another is art.  I cant say that about running a non-profit art organization.  Becoming a gallery director is not on my list of things to do before I die.  So 2010 is about getting back to the real me.  The real me is happy in a boat, or standing in a river waving a stick trying to lure a Bass, Crappie, Pike, Bluegill or even a trout to bite my fly.  When I’m at home I like to make art that reminds me of being outdoors.  It’s just that simple.

My first project for 2010 is called “The Dirty Dozen”.  I decided to make 12 woodblock prints.  My goal is to make one every 12 days.  The first is my favorite little nymph, “The Pheasant Tail”.  I dont know if this sketch will turn into a print?  But, I like the feeling I get from it.  My work tends to look a little aboriginal at times.  To me this looks a little like an African mask.  The image surrounding the fly is a slightly embellished version of Pheasant feathers.

Here is yet another experiment in wood.  This was cut on a piece of Shina plywood.  I know there are better woods to work in.  But I have a few pieces of this stuff left and I hate to see anything go to waste.  I made 20 prints.  Most will remain as shown.  But a few will be handpainted after the ink dries.

Morel and Frog is an image that doodled out of my pencil and into my sketchbook one day.  I like the old Frog and Toad illustrations by Arnold Lobel.  I like forest creatures.  I like mushrooms and all the little bugs that crawl around in decaying wood.  If this print looks childlike, well I guess that’s ok with me.  Because playing in the woods, looking for frogs and mushrooms is something I havent done in a long time….since childhood.  Every now and then when I’m fishing along the AuSable River I’ll stop and look at an old log or a mushroom and remember those days as a child in the woods.

Left to right:

Cesar Chavez, Dr. Hector Perez Garcia, Honorable Sonia Sotomayor

These images will be incorporated into my stained glass design.