Mark's Skunk

"Mark's Skunk" Watercolor and Gouache. Friend, fly tyer extraordinaire and fishing guru, Marty Howard contacted me to do a commission painting for his good friend Mark O'Meara (the professional golfer). Marty wanted to give Mark a unique gift as a wedding present. This pattern is one that Mark likes to fish and tie. It is pretty cool knowing that one of my paintings is hanging up in a professional golfers house. I wonder if Mark keeps an eye out for rises in the ponds while he is golfing. I can imagine him asking his caddy for his 5 weight, then dashes over to the pond to catch a few gills with a foam spider while the other golfers make their shots.

Superfly Vodka

"Silver Hilton" Superfly Vodka Label Well I guess I have a run on the liquor industry!Ryan Webster at Superfly sent me an email about creating some art for his new line of potato vodka. I responded with the Slver Hilton. The first batch out of the still is due the middle of July. I am looking forward to sampling the first batch. Check out Ryan's website at www.superflybooze.com to find out more information. Ryan runs a grass roots operation at Superfly. This is the type of industry and spirit (no pun intended) that has made this country great.

Sheri's Fly

"Sheri's Fly" 18" x 22" Watercolor and Gouache

I was approached by the Sportsmans Alliance for Alaska about donating a painting for their online auction. In summary the Sportsmans Alliance are
Hunters and anglers working together to preserve fish and game habitats and hunting and fishing opportunities on our public lands in Alaska. Fishing in Alaska is one of the top 5 trips I want to take before I take a dirt nap. Sometimes it becomes difficult (especially in these economic times) to donate cash to worthy causes, so I decided to donate an original fly painting for the auction. In the past, I have donated finished paintings of my choice to the auction. This time I allowed the auction winner to pick the fly they wanted painted.

The winner was Mike H. and this was his email to me: "The fly I want to have drawn is a simple one. It's one that I have been tying for my wife, Sheri, to use for 25 years in the lakes we fish and it's the only fly she uses. Nothing special to anyone but us. We call it a Fore & Aft with a Red Tail, or more typically, "Sheri's Fly". Not very creative, but descriptive. It's like a peacock lady with a few different colors."

Well Mike, I hope you and Sheri enjoy this painting! Nothing like a fly with a great story!

Collector’s Edition “Jeff Kennedy” Wines

Collector's Edition "Jeff Kennedy" Wines
5% of Sales to Support the Federation of Fly Fishers

Since my surgery I've learned that it's fairly easy to enjoy a glass of wine with the other hand...moreover, wine labeled with my own art!

Recently, I was afforded the opportunity to apply my creative talents to the world of fine wine in collaboration with StoneFly Vineyards and their sister winery Windsor Vineyards. Both craft outstanding wines and are doing a tremendous amount of work to pair the traditions of winemaking and fly fishing.

In trade for the use of my paintings "Fishing on the Fox" and "Milwaukee Morning," they applied their label design skills to craft two stunning labels of collector's edition "Jeff Kennedy." Take a close look at how they used two of my fly paintings "McGinty" and "Halloween Spey." I think they did a remarkable job of crafting a label and preserving my original artistic intent...and the wines are outstanding!

Continuing in the spirit of collaboration I am now offering my readers the limited opportunity to purchase these fine wines labeled with my artistic creations. Moreover you can enjoy these wines while making a difference for fly fishing. Together we will contribute 5% of your net purchase of these wines to the Federation of Fly Fishers, whose work is instrumental in keeping our fly fishing community thriving and growing.

The cost for the very tasty 06 Zinfandel is $15/bottle and for the 2007 Mendocino Chardonnay $18/bottle. You can order as little as one bottle or even multiple cases. To place an order you can reach Nick at 707.836.5492 or nickp@stoneflyvineyards.com.

FREE iTouch - iPhone Wallpaper

I have created a set of wallpaper images which you can download to your iTouch or iPhone. Get the entire set free here. Download the Drawing Flies 365 Wallpaper set.

Silver Hilton

"Silver Hilton" 22" x 14" Watercolor and Gouache. This image will be used on an upcoming project that will be revealed shortly. This is the first fly that I have been able to paint using my right hand. Although painful, physical therapy is helping to loosen up my tight right shoulder.

Sketch Blog

"Mill Stream" Sharpie and Watercolor. I have a few new sketches up on my Sketch Blog. Drop by to have a look. You can also receive all of my latest studio news by subscribing to my newsletter. Simply add your email address in the newsletter subscription sidebar.

Pete's Killer Frog

"Pete's Killer Frog" Watercolor and Gouache. Pete H. from my tying club commissioned the painting of his signature fly.

L E F T Y 1

"LEFTY ONE" Watercolor, Sharpie and Gouache. Thanks to all who sent emails and comments! It is greatly appreciated. Well, here is the update. I had a complete tear of the rotator cuff. 4 surgical sutcher screws were inserted and used to repair the cuff arthroscopically. 6 insertion pointss around my shoulder were used to repair the cuff. I also had a frayed bicep tendon. The Doc performed a Bicep Tenodesis. Normal attachment of the biceps tendon is on the shoulder socket and reattaches the tendon to the bone of the humerus (arm bone). By performing a biceps tenodesis, the pressure of the bicpes attachment is taken off the cartilage rim of the shoulder socket (the labrum), and a portion of the biceps tendon can be surgically removed. Essentially a biceps tenodesis moves the attachment of the biceps tendon to a position that is out of the way of the shoulder joint. The tendon is reattached lower on the bone using a screw. Along with general anasthetic, I was also given a nerve block in the right arm. This keeps the arm numb anywhere between 6 to 12 hours. The arm was still nice and numb after surgery due to the block. After the block wore off, a hell broke loose. The pain was incredible. The pain meds had little effect. I did not sleep for 24 hours. Each day has been better. Went to the Doc yesterday to have the staples removed from the port incesions. The staples still remain on the big incesion. The bicep on my arm is completely bruised. looks like it eas beat with a sledge hammer. Physcial therapy begins next week. I am so bored with TV and movies. I felt decent enogh this morning to hit the studio. I grabbed my watercolor sketchbook and a Sharpie and started to draw with the left hand. Not the greatest, I kept my expectations low as was just glad to be drawing and painting again. Grabbed the watercolor brush aand stated laying down washes. This is much easier with the left hand then the drawing portion. I practiced signing my name on a scrap piece of paper using my left hand. As you can see, I opted form my initials. My dear wife has been an incedible help throught this process. I Love her dearly and could not have done this without her.

S U R G E R Y

Bad News - Tomorrow I will be having surgery on my right shoulder to repair a torn rotator cuff and a frayed bicep tendon. Since I am right handed, my painting and drawing will be put on hold for a while. Depending on the extent of the recuperation period, I may try my hand at painting left handed. May be a fun and interesting way to pass some time while being laid up. I am hoping for a quick and miraculous recovery!

Book Update

I just wanted to post a brief book update. The book is coming along, slowly. I am in the throws of sizing all of the images, which is a bigger task than expected. Needless to say, I should have a preview of the book available in the next two weeks. At the release of the preview, I will have a firm release date for the book! Thanks for waiting.

Bit Me Bunny

"Bite Me Bunny Fly" This is not your run of the mill Easter Bunny. This is a bunny with attitude! I think about all of the rabbit I have put on flies, and this fly may come back to bite in my dreams. This is one waskly wabbit! Happy Easter Everyone!

Nabours and Friends - Healing Waters Event

Ron S. who has been visiting the Drawing Flies 365 blog since it's inception, has passed along information on an event that he has organized. If you are in the Caney Fork Rivers, TN area this weekend, drop in to check out this event. For more information, check it out here and here.

Red Quill

"Red Quill" Pen , Ink and watercolor. Just a quick sketch to post. I have a number of others I have been working on and will post them shortly.

BWO Cripple

"BWO Cripple" Watercolor and Gouache. If any of you had the chance to drop by and see me at the Whitefish Studio booth at the Great Waters Fly Fishing Exposition in Minneapolis, there is a good chance you saw me working on this fly. John over at Trout Lily Studio had asked me to paint this fly for him. This is one of John's favorite trout flies for the Minnesota spring creeks. It was great to see and meet all of you who dropped by the booth to say hello. I would also like to Thank Bob and Lisa for the great conversation, pizza and a great place to crash during my stay.

Heading To Minneapolis

I will be at the Minneapolis Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo on March 7th and 8th. I will be set up in the Whitefish Studio booth painting with Bob White in the "Studio" section of the booth. I had the privilege of having Bob painting in my booth at the Chicago show. It was a great time seeing Bob paint and having people stop by and introduce themselves. If you are in the area, stop in and say hello! Here are some pictures from the Chicago Show.

Working on the Shanaynay

There is always a joker in the crowd! That's my buddy Corey giving me the Peace Sign or rabbit ears or maybe he wants 2 paintings done.

Bob at work on his latest oil painting.

Pictures courtesy of John Koch at Trout Lily Studio.

SHANAYNAY

"Shanaynay" This is an original pattern by Joseph at One More Cast. I created this painting as a demo at the MidWest Flyfishing Expo this past weekend. There is an interesting story to this fly. If you would like to know more, drop Joseph a line.

"Flats Bunny" Watercolor and Gouache. This fly was created for the winner of the monthly drawing for Boodreaux's Boondocques ESPN radio show at Florida Fishing Radio. The January winner was Jason H. and the fly he requested was the Flats Bunny. Here you go Jason and Congrats!

Jack's Fly

A few weeks back, I received an incredible gift of some retired oil brushes. These brushes were from my good friend Jack, fly tier extraordinaire and an all around great guy to have a pint with. When you look through art catalogs, they have brushes categorized by the type of paint that you create with, brushes for watercolor, oil and so on. I decided to use one of the oil brushes with watercolor to paint this fly. I know it may seem like art blasphemy, but if you do not branch out and push the limits a bit, you will never full realize full creative potential. Thanks Jack for the brushes!

Field and Stream

Tim Ramano editor of the Field and Stream blog has a nice post on my projects. Check it out here. It is fun to read the comments. Thanks Tim for the post!