Artwork description:

I left the Pecos Wilderness in northern New Mexico for a campground in Colorado located in the foot hills of the rocky mountains. Downstream from more populated fish and fishermen waters, it’s located on the crest of Carson National Forest off the Conejos river. In Spanish, Conejos translates to “river of rabbits.” I have never seen such creatures there about. So why the name rabbits? My best guess is that they first encountered the river upstream from Chama, New Mexico. From a distance the river is full of fast moving flashes as it flows over rocks and boulders through riffles of spraying water.

The Aspen Glade campground is close to Colorado. Here the water is slower, like a Tom Sawyer appearance with large pools and deep, dark pocket water and a high bank across from you. That place is the first pull off of many along the river road. The path is not well worn. This area of the river is not stocked or designated fly fishing only, so it’s very seldom fished. The camp site is small, two tent pads and one fire pit. A standing tradition is to meet here and spend three days fishing with a close friend and fishing companion. “Same time next year” has lasted for nine years.

What brings us here is to go after the “big boys,” the overweight “granddaddies” that lurk near dusk in the deep pools. Big browns eighteen inches and bigger, hit your fly with such force that bends your rod into a circle. We fish at dusk into the cold evening darkness. Quietly seeing with our ears, sensing with our fingers the slightest twitch or subtle pull on the line, we miss more then we land, but that’s the smile of it all.

The linocut print is designed as if you were on the path leading to the rivers’ edge. The dark Ponderosa pine is the senator on the right that grows vertically bottom to top, locking the entrance of the picture. This is mirrored by secondary Ponderosa pines that intertwine with a zigzag flow of patches of light signifying the path. This lighted path leads the eye to two aspen trees with their white bark signaling the location from which old, later to become new, memories of friendship.

Materials used:

Daniel Smith Traditional Black Relief Ink on Zerkall Book Smooth Cream over Somerset Satin White 250gm

Tags:

#tranquil #memories #fishing #dusk #limited edition #friendship #heritage #clearing #pine #trout #hand carved #midday #foothills #rocky mounains #rejuvinating