The Last Catch

Last Catch was my first piece involving fishing and was a new direction. It has an interesting story behind it.

I was offered the opportunity to do a Solo Art Show at a high-end ladies' store in Great Falls, Montana; Mr. Dale Stapp of Stapps Ladies Store gave me the opportunity. I was asked to bring some original pieces as well as my prints.

I didn’t have many originals as I had sold most of them or given them to my family. I was in our attic in pursuit when I came across a piece that was rolled up. It was 300lb cold press paper, so unrolling it without hurting it was difficult.

In the attempt, a tennis shoe fell out of the roll. Upon close observation, when I opened it, I could see the faintest imprint of the tennis shoe.

I remembered starting the piece years before for a friend but never finishing it.

I completed it and had the piece framed for my show.

While I was finishing the piece, I realized I could not get the imprint of the shoe to erase.  I had no choice but to make it work.  I feel I successfully achieved my goal but I can still see that imprint.  Actually I think the shoe was the reason the piece did not get crushed in its rolled up state.

My first picture with a person and they were holding a fishing pole. The response was surprising. Many people wanted to own this piece.

I put out a note card that read “taking orders on Print.” I pre-sold 49 pieces, which didn't even have a name yet, that weekend.