Idle Minutes

I’ve recently been selling some art on eBay. One of my patrons asked me to create a painting of her father fly fishing on the Gallatin River. She sent a photo for reference and said she would like the scene to have some color, maybe like fall.

This was the result. It’s a small baseball card sized painting just 3-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ and I used watercolor and gouache.

I’ve done my share of stream fishing and I can say it is a wonderful way to enjoy a day. Take a sack lunch, hike a little ways to the stream, explore the eddies and rapids…it seems to me there is more to do and more to observe than in boat fishing on a lake. Not to put down boat fishing…it’s just another style. Between the two, I like streams and rivers. If you should land a trout you will see up close a truly beautiful fish. As fish go, a trout’s eyes seem intelligent. One is inclined to return it to it’s waters and let it be.

Go in the fall and you’ll find yourself so far away from your cares and worries that you’ll plan to retire near a stream or wadeable river. It’s that kind of a peaceful experience. Of course if you go to a crowded, well worn location the experience is totally different. So do some research first. Check out fish camps and guide services. Or get a book on local trout fishing.

For my artist readers, here is the reference photo.