All set to go!

18 x 24 – Oil – Photo by Tosh Brown

Until now I have been painting in a rathole or next to my bed in my bedroom… Finally, I have my own space! I am very excited about this new place to work on my artwork, It is amazing to actually have a place to walk around to view the art from different angles. I bunked up in Free Fly Apparel’s new warehouse, so it will be great having awesome neighbors.

This is what I have been working on the last couple months for Christmas gifts.

3 piece set:

For a family that just recently lost this Chocolate Lab,Wish I had taken a little bit better pic:

A piece I started a long time ago, I first posted it halfway done when I started this blog, it is a good friend’s dad on a horse riding trip through Colorado:

Josh’s Rainbow:

Matt’s Rainbow:

Thanks everyone, I enjoyed doing all these!

Tied by Enrico Puglisi – www.EPFlies.com

If the cards aren’t usually always stacked against me enough already, I have decided that I am going to fish nothing but one fly for the whole year of 2014, and it shall be the Everglades Special.  This fly is so diverse, through it’s shape and color, it can mimick so many different creatures that make up fresh and saltwater fish’s diets.

I have a few trips coming up this year, and the only one I am a little worried about is the Permit trip to The Palometa Club.  I think it could trick a Permit in a schooling situation, but not so much a tailing permit, but then again, you never know with those bastards!  I am not worried too much about my tarpon trip, unless of course we get into the mythical worm hatch, most likely will now.  Alaska shouldnt be too tough with the ol Everglades Special….Kings and Chums are pretty aggressive and the big ol Bows should eat it accordingly.  Fishing here in Charleston should be a breeze in the lowtide Winter and Spring months, for it is a proven pattern for that.  I could be very challenged during the tailing season, for they aren’t looking for baitfish/shrimp, and are too busy bulldozing for crabs.  I am not apposed to trimming the tail off and adding a cone weight and getting it down.  I am excited to see how many species in so many different locations I can pull this off in.

In the end, i really don’t think fish are as particular as we make them out to be.  I used to sit and just watch trout in a spring creek when I lived in Jackson, WY and those fish would let just about anything go in their mouths, constantly editing what was food and what wasn’t.  Yes, I know they were Cutthroat, but still…on the right day, these fish were tough as hell to catch as well. I just hope in the end, I am throwing these flies on the good days, the days where it doesn’t matter what you throw…I will need all the help I can get.  2014, The Everglades Special and me.

Roger Metz…I told you, also…Michael Bruner, you’re my hero!

-Paul

My lack of posts here lately is due to projects that I cant post until after Xmas.  I had about 4 fish paintings and 4 dog paintings to do.  I’ve been very busy and have never had this kind of work streak in my life.  I am very fortunate everyday to be able to paint things that I love to paint and have people spend their hard earned money for my creations, so thank you!  I will post the pieces here after the holidays!

I don’t really know where this will go, but it is an observation I have recently come to. Before it has been more of a fluke to me, just rock ‘n roll burnouts that did’nt make it…failing their way to what some may call, the easy route.  I’m talking about the rougher, scratchier, tougher looking dudes that now seem to be the heart of good, ol fashioned country music.  When I think of country music, I don’t think of the microwaved, rubbery tasting, machine made, T.V. dinner version of what used to be amazing, bluesy, sad steel pedal country music.  Today it sucks, and sucks even more that they call it country music. I feel guilty or have to explain myself when I say that I play blues and country music.  Most of it is a traveling party show that talks about tailgates, black tops, pasture parties and the size of the tires on the Chevy half-ton.  Who gives a shit about that, who cares….oh yea, the idiots that buy those records and do have big tires and drive country road black tops with their red dixie cup full o beer….well, that actually sounds pretty good….the backroads and dixie cups full of cold beera.

With all this fake country goin on, I am starting to see a lot of the guys that when they were younger, probably made fun of what the old country sound was, the more metal rocker looking dudes.  They are starting to emerge as the country sound.  I know it got pretty cool to like Johnny Cash, Waylon and Willie about 15 years ago, but when they were in their prime, it was rare to see any Rock n Roll guys appreciate it.  I think it is because then those guys were outlaws, and the outlaw in music these days are these metal guys that are leaning towards country.  Its kinda how ya don’t really appreciate something until its gone, its going away now and more people are starting to try to bring it back.  Country music that I like, doesn’t need to be sang by a Cowboy, I do’nt care if they are from Texas, Tennessee or the south…just play me some bluesy country, please have some steel pedal in it, and just sing the truth…thats all it takes, I already know about the BBQ stain your T shirt and how she is killing you in that mini skirt….bring on the Metal Country boys, its good stuff.

-Paul

Matt Woods

Hank 3

Joe Buck Yourself

Dale Watson – One of the last real country bad asses!

Wayne the Train

Whitey Morgan

I had a lot of interest in these fun drawings being turned into a series of prints, the action has been taken! Check em out!
http://paulpuckettart.com/available-prints-etchings/