I started a correspondence with Eric English many months ago. I'm not sure if it was on Facebook or on this blog FLY PAPER. In any case, Eric seemed like an enthusiastic and energetic guy and I enjoyed our back and forths. Eric, an ER Doc from Virginia, had fished on Acklins Island with guide Fedel Johnson... me too!
Most recently, I had fished with Fedel on our Sea Hunter trip last May. We both loved the island's remote flats and enjoyed fishing with Fedel. (I had met Fedel more than 15 years ago when he was a guide at Greys Point Bonefish Inn. Fedel and GPBI apparently had a bit of a falling out and now Fedel was running his own little operation. It was great for me to reconnect with Fedel after so many years).
 |
| Guide Fedel Johnson |
 |
Eric's plate… Fish Taco!
|
A few months later, Eric asked if he could paint one of my photographs from my last trip to Crooked/Acklins Island. He said he was enthralled with the photograph and of course, I was flattered. I told him I would be honored, but honestly I didn't think about it again. Then a few days ago, Eric sent me a photo of the watercolor he had done using my photograph and said,
"I appreciate the great fishing photography you are doing. I'm researching a water color reproduction process called Giclee and once I have that painting copied I'll send you the original as a token of my appreciation for letting me paint your photograph. I firmly believe in crediting the original photographers for their remarkable creation."
Thanks Eric, You made my day!
 |
| Obviously, Eric is passionate bone fisherman and artist! |
Then unexpectantly, Eric sent me a few sketches he did while on his Acklins Island trip (apparently in lieu of a daily journal). Now it was my turn to be enthralled. I think Eric's drawings are great and wanted to share them with the readers of this blog. Eric has a lot of fun whether he is fishing or recounting the events of the day.
Good on you Eric and keep at it!!
Thanks for the kudos and for letting me paint your great photograph. I do make daily journal entries but they are not as humorous as the cartoons may indicate. The are often short on successes and long on experiences. Keep on fishing!
ReplyDeleteI really like your work Eric. I mentioned to Scott this afternoon in an email, that I love the way watercolor medium can capture a bit of the "surreal" I associate with flats fishing. I've long been a fan of Chet Reneson and Eldridge Hardy, but really like how you go a touch more abstract without crossing the line into Op-art. Beautiful colors and beautiful rendition. You make a great team!
DeleteJeff
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI love these sketches Eric. I want to see more!
DeleteI agree Jeff, that great morning we had was indeed surreal!
DeleteI compare it to one of those hazy days when a big head pokes out of an eddie to eat a bug or a metallic tarpon head gulps air at dawn. I love those moments! I think this light is beautiful and my photo triggered something in Eric that he wanted to capture. He did a great job!
I like the graphics and humor in the journal pages. Reminds me of the satirical comics we used to make for my college newspaper. Called ourselves "Ozone Graphics". And I think every guide says an LDR'ed fish is a 10lb bone.
ReplyDeleteno kidding! I wish there were as many Double Digit fish as exist in the imagination of guides. But, I must admit, I'm often guilty of DDing bones in skinny water! I just get so excited!
DeleteThanks for the compilments. Doug, I fondly remember "getting my bones" in the world of art in my high school newspaper and in med school study notes. I like the "Impressionists" and try to follow their iconoclastic precepts and some of their techniques: brush strokes can be visible, colors are pure as can be (except perhaps in the happy accidently mixing of paint of the water color technique), and Monet's use of reflected light. Monet's use of gray is masterful as seen in his famous painting, "Impression Sunrise." The painting had so much gray in it I couldn't master its subtlety and had to use more yellow and blue hues. Jeff, I'll check out the artists you mentioned. I'm such a nube in art there is so much to learn. Like painting, bonefishing is an art, and I'll keep practicing and one day I'll catch my first 10 lb bone. I'll be fishing with Fedel next month and hopefully will get more funny material and material for painting. It is hard to focus on photography while fishing like Scott does (to wonderful success). As to promoting flats fishing humor, I wish Scott would publish some "guidespeak" (or trip outfitter) for bonefishing.
ReplyDelete