The Fly Fisherman's Ballet

The Fisherman’s Ballet


Painting en plein air at Weir Dam one morning with some other artists, I was inspired to capture all the lightly fused colors in the mist rising over the South Holston River as the sun rose. It evoked such a peacefulness that I just breathed in the fresh crisp air with each stroke of my brush. I started with a grisaille underpainting and then began layering in with color passes. Before I could finish, the sun had evaporated all the mist and changed into some glorious colors in the water’s reflection. Another painting in and of itself. I would have to return on another day.

A few weeks later when I returned and before I could finish setting up, a gentleman walked over and asked to see my painting. He liked it very much and asked to see it when I finished that he may want to buy it. I shared with him my plans to paint a fly fisherman into the rendering and asked if that would matter to him. Not only did he like the idea, he said if I painted him with his gear on that he would surely buy the painting. He had been fishing those waters for some 60 years and it was a very special place for him. His love of that area and how I captured how he feels when he is there is what I finally tried to render in this painting. So my inspiration fused with his inspiration and the final rendering speaks for itself. Thank you Mr. Byrd.