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~June, 2009.
Greetings and welcome back
to our latest
Sporting Art News from the J. Russell Jinishian Gallery.
It has been a while since I have been in touch and brought you up to date on all
that is happening in the world of Sporting Art. And there is much to report –
New
paintings from many of our artists, recent acquisitions at the gallery and lots
of
exciting and interesting news to report on the whereabouts and happenings
of the
talented group we represent. As always, I hope you find the information
here
enlightening and interesting, as we do our best to keep you up to date on the
folks whose
work you collect and admire. Feel free to contact me should you wish to learn
more about
any of the topics I cover in this Newsletter or the Sporting Art world in
general.
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UPCOMING
FLY RODS
and SHOTGUNS: |
and we have just received three of the coveted cold-water species, all of which we seek from coast to coast.
Flick is working hard promoting his most recent milestone book – BIG: The 50 Greatest World Record Catches (Greenwich Workshop Press), and is traveling throughout the U.S. visiting galleries and bookstores, as part of the promotional efforts. I had a chance to briefly connect with Flick in early May, when he was the featured artist at the ‘Orvis Days’ event at the Orvis Flagship Store in Manchester VT. He was on hand to sign his new book and talk to collectors about his artwork and his brave new venture into the world of ‘In Situ’ painting. He shared with me that he is starting to get more fishing in, between his various events, and looks forward to a summer spent, hopefully, largely on the water! Arthur Shilstone seems to be one of the busiest artists I know and he never seems to slow down for a minute – quite remarkable for this youthful 87 year-old! Even though he regularly provides us with many exquisite watercolors of sporting subjects, he still manages to find time to take on various illustration projects for publications throughout North America. Arthur spent much of his painting career in the commercial illustration world, dating all the way back to WWII and as recently as the last few months. Specifically, Arthur was recently tapped by American Heritage Magazine to create several paintings on a story about Roger’s Raiders during the French & Indian War that American Heritage will be publishing in the Summer Issue, which should be out shortly. Keep an eye out for it at magazine and bookstores. Arthur, like another well-known Sporting Artist - Ogden Pleissner, has the unique ability to place himself in any environment, covering virtually any subject, and be able to execute such striking and convincing images – all skills of a rare bread of artist. In the meantime, Arthur has just recently brought us these two new watercolor paintings, executed in a way that only Arthur can do.
Legendary Painter Stanley Meltzoff’s (1917-2006) artwork will be exhibited on two coasts this summer - the west coast at C. C. Gallagher in the Village of Avalon on beautiful Santa Catalina Island off the coast of California and here on the east coast at the J. Russell Jinishian Gallery in Fairfield, CT. Many of you might remember a two man show a few summers back in Newport Beach, CA, in which Stanley and Flick Ford shared the rare privilege of an extensive exhibition at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum. That was the first and only major exhibition of Stanley’s work on the west coast – Until now. Noted Author, Angler and Historian Mike Rivkin (Big-Game Fishing Headquarters: A History of the IGFA – IGFA Press, Angling and War: The Collision of Big Game Fishing and WWII, The West Palm Beach Fishing Club: A 75 Year History – Silverfish Press, and Big: The 50 Greatest World Record Catches – Greenwich Workshop Press), has been instrumental in facilitating this two-coast exhibit through the summer months. This is a great opportunity to extend Stanley’s legacy to an audience that may not have had the previous opportunity to experience such magnificent work first-hand. Stanley’s rare ability to capture fish in their natural environment, and he was truly the progenitor of this genre, allows the viewer to see a world that he or she most likely will never otherwise experience. And this is not the only major contribution Mr. Rivkin has made in solidifying Stanley’s position as one of the worlds foremost painters and contributors to the art world at large – a rare position to be shared with the likes of Rockwell, Homer and N.C. Wyeth, to name just a few. Mr. Meltzoff’s breadth of contributions throughout his distinguished career is such that he is properly positioned among these names. To that end, Mr. Rivkin’s monumental contribution in writing Stanley’s biography will reveal much about the man and the artist that most of us, even his most avid collectors, might not know. Mike is putting finishing touches on the copy of the book and he is targeting a release date this coming fall. I will keep you posted as we get closer to the date and know more about the various offerings of the book. We have a pretty good idea that the book will be offered in a few limited editions, and Mike indicated to me that the book will be roughly 190 pages, with a similar number of images and plates. Stay tuned and I will provide more as the details come in. In the meantime, and I think I speak for all Meltzoff collectors, and those who appreciate this man’s incredible talent, my sincere thanks go out to Mr. Rivkin for his tireless work and effort in keeping this project on track and seeing it to its completion.
Al Barnes remains focused on painting subjects we all love – The Flats Waters of the beautiful South – transporting us to a place at which most of us spend the year dreaming about or anticipating an annual pilgrimage – The blue-green, aquamarine waters that hold some of the most sought-after saltwater gamefish – Permit, Bonefish, Tarpon & Snook. Al knows these subjects as well as any angler, due to the amount of time he has spent on (and in!) these waters in pursuit of these splendid species. Al has recently sent us several paintings, including this fine work. Who wouldn’t want to put his or her self in this setting?
Simon Haycraft has done it again - brought to us, in his most unusual art form, a work I can only describe as the capture of his subject matter that truly fools the eye. In looking at this most |
recent carving, at first glance, I literally want to reach into the carving and grab the Rainbow as it is porpoising. Simon takes pain-staking measures to carve these beautiful creations and the finished result is nothing short of awe-inspiring. When I asked Simon about the process, he was kind enough to share with me his insight and even sent along a ‘work-in-progress’ image, so we can all understand the amount of work in each carving.
I further probed Simon for the details of his process and he offered the following: “I first look for a seasoned piece of hardwood with a lot of fluid movement in the grain. Subject to availability, myrtlewood is my wood of choice - An extremely hard wood found in the Pacific Northwest, full of character yet very stable. The grain indicates the flow of water and this ultimately decides the composition of the piece. I use traditional hand-carving tools for the majority of the carving and go in with a dremmel tool where needed. Care must be taken in carving the water's surface due to the very subtle, undulating movements indicative of water. By lighting the work from directly above I am able to see the form taking shape and correct any imperfections. Before coloring, the piece must be sanded down to a very fine grit along the grain to ensure a smooth tactile finish and to avoid cross grain issues.” The finished result of the work in progress offered above comes to life in the form of this beautiful Rainbow having just sipped on something in the film and is now headed back down to protective waters. This carving, as with his earlier Brown Trout is so life-like, it will fool the wariest of eyes.
Artist James Prosek may be one of the most conservation-minded artists in the market today. In addition to all the work he has done with Patagonia Founder Yvon Chouinard on the World Trout Initiative, he has also teamed up with renowned fly reel manufacturer Abel to produce a limited edition Abel Super #3N large arbor fly reel – in a rainbow trout design inspired by James. Proceeds from the sale of the reel will benefit the Theodore Gordon Flyfishers, a New York-based conservation organization, announced Don R. Swanson, president of the tackle manufacturer. One hundred of the individually colored and anodized reels will be produced. Reels will be accompanied by a signed and numbered 11x14-inch gicleč print of a rainbow trout by James. The print number will correspond to the reel number. Reel numbers one and two together with corresponding gicleč prints and the original rainbow trout watercolor by Prosek are being donated to the Theodore Gordon Flyfishers by Abel and James.
I have seen a bit of artist Nick Mayer in the last few months, as we both live in the northern region of the Green Mountain State. Nick has been included in several exhibitions in the last six months, including the National Guild Of Natural Science Illustrators Annual Juried Members Exhibition at the Hartell Gallery at Cornell University, as well as the 29th Annual Marine Art Exhibition at the Mystic Maritime Gallery and a one-man show with our friends at the Bedford Sportsman in Bedford, NY. Needless to say, Nick has been busy! But he still finds time to get on the water, both locally, chasing wild Brookies on the New Haven and Middlebury Rivers, and further away, chasing the likes of this beautiful Wahoo.
Nick finds himself equally at home on both fresh & salt water, having grown up fishing the waters off Rhode Island, and now frequenting the waters near his home in the beautiful mountains of Vermont. Nick and I both hope to be in attendance at the American Museum Of Fly Fishing Annual Fly Fishing Festival in Manchester, VT, August 15, 2009 Though we are still almost half a year away, I would ask all of you to mark your calendar for Saturday, October 3, as the J. Russell Jinishian Gallery and The American Museum Of Fly Fishing will co-host ‘Fins & Feathers – An Evening With The Artists’ here at the gallery. The event, recently formalized with the Museum, will serve to bring anglers and art collectors alike to learn more about the tremendous resource the Museum provides regarding all things Fly Fishing, as well as a first hand opportunity to learn from many of our artist just what it is that inspires them to create and the unique approach each brings to the discipline – and all in the setting of the finest in Sporting Art. Catherine Comar, Executive Director of the Museum, will be on hand to share her insight on the present and future of the Museum. This institution is truly one of the great resources of the rich heritage of Fly Fishing. Additionally, during this evening event, a portion of the proceeds of all sales will go directly to the Museum for their ongoing efforts of Fly Fishing preservation & education. So come join us and make this an extraordinary event. I will be providing more information as we get closer to the date. As always, there is more information than I can share here. And it is accurate to say that all of our artists are very engaged in their trade and making great efforts to contribute to the world of Sporting Art. I am confident all of you are starting to get out on the water more, as weather and conditions improve and fish become more active. I hope many of you will be in touch and have a chance to share some of your recent adventures with all of us here at the gallery and in the business. As more fascinating information comes my way, I will do my best to share this with you. We have many more great works of art from all of our Sporting Artists here at the J. Russell Jinishian Gallery, including Robert Blazek, Peter Bowe, Keith Cardnell, Glen Hacker, Eldridge Hardie, Richard Dana Kuchta, Robert Lagasse, David Mellor, Don Ray, Kent Ullberg and many others. If you find yourself near the gallery this summer, stop in, say hello and see all of these great works first hand. Tight Lines! |
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Mike Stidham keeps himself busy on many different fronts, not just painting, and I continue to be amazed at the caliber of his work. When Mike is not scrambling with commissions for collectors and illustration projects for various companies, he keeps himself occupied supplying us with his truly breathtaking artwork. On top of that, Mike has dedicated the last few years to completing a ground-up restoration of his Airstream trailer which he has literally transformed into a traveling studio, from which he can fish and paint in various locations throughout the west. This summer, Mike plans to land his trailer for several months in Livingston, MT on the banks of the Yellowstone River in the beautiful Paradise Valley. There Mike will spend his mornings and evenings fishing and painting the beautiful surroundings and fish the Yellowstone produces during the day. By doing this, Mike will allow himself to capture subjects fresh in his mind and begin work on them right away, rather than having to rely on memory and photographs once he returns to his studio. I plan to visit with Mike during his time there and am sure I will have much to report and several new works to share with you all. Stay tuned, as I will keep you updated as we approach the date and upon my return. In the meantime, we just received tremendous Permit painting from Mike that, in his trademark style, captures the subject in a convincing way few can do. Most often, one simply imagines how these fish move and relate in their natural environment. Mike brings the setting to life in his stunning underwater portraits and puts us right there with the fish.
Mike offered these words with regard to his art: “My goal has always been to create paintings at a different level of fine art, beyond illustration of various species of fish, in which my images will stand on the merit of great design, mood, impression, flow of motion and angles. I try to paint just enough to create a perception, sense, viewpoint, feeling and love for the subject, and then invite viewers to fill in the gaps”. And here is another recent gallery acquisition and great example of this man’s tremendous talent.
Roger Blum continues to provide us with many beautiful paintings, in spite of his busy schedule, and each of his works captures the imagination of the angler and hunter in a very unique way. Roger has sent us several new images since I last communicated with you, and managed to do so while preparing for the 98th California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition, in which Roger was honored with an Award Of Excellence for one of his works. Kudos to Roger for not only having received this award (especially among such prominent competition), but also for having the ability to keep our walls graced with many brilliant new paintings. Billed as one of the top contemporary painters of this subject matter in America today, Roger creates his masterful works in both oil and watercolor and is equally at home in both. We continue to be honored to have Roger’s work with us, and here is a fine example of a painting we just received.
Flick Ford has recently launched on a new approach to his craft and the results are a unique perspective of his vision of fish and a complimenting style to add to his portfolio. Internationally recognized for his “Taxonomic” technique for painting fish profiles of virtually every species of popular angling game fish, Flick has now chosen to captures these beautiful specimens as one would find them in their natural environment. Flick’s intimate knowledge of fish anatomy and his extensive experience as an angler in many different regions of the world have allowed him to capture his subjects in an accurate depiction, as one might expect to find these fish in their natural habitats. Here is a first look at this new approach and we look forward to seeing many more to follow.
Additionally, Flick continues to paint his signature Taxonomic fish profiles, |
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