WOW-

[Labrador1]

Eben just sent me a PM saying that he'd posted this - Good thing since I figured the "Wow" post was going to be Eben with an early spring 50# on one of his new eels!

Dad started carving those about 15 years ago - and has never looked back. Basically he gets calls from guys who have caught a "trophy" and want him to create a representation of it. They are all life sized - matching both length and girth. The tarpon was somewhere in the 7' category if I remember right - although most of his carvings are Atlantic Salmon and trout. Indanite is right about the music - he has played the bassoon in the Dallas symphony, Kansas City and still plays in the Chautauqua Symphony.

Everything is carved by hand with files, dremels or in some cases a woodburner - and the painting is all done with paintbrushes and oil paints - not airbrushes. Even the eyes - which he assures me are easy to paint - are hand painted. They generally take him about 6 weeks from start to finish. He has never advertised, but a while ago I helped to convince him that a website was in order - not as an advertising tool, but something to allow interested parties to look at photos online rather than sending photos in the mail. Computers are not his bag - he is much more comfortable with a paintbrush in his hand.

I've never posted anything about what he does since I didn't want it to look like an advertisement - besides - his carvings make my plugs look really bad!

He's never done a striper - and every year I hope to catch one that I would consider worthy. I came closer this year, but still not hit that magic personal milestone. But hey its almost may - and maybe he'll give me a discount!!!

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Labrador1

Eben just sent me a PM saying that he'd posted this - Good thing since I figured the "Wow" post was going to be Eben with an early spring 50# on one of his new eels!

Dad started carving those about 15 years ago - and has never looked back. Basically he gets calls from guys who have caught a "trophy" and want him to create a representation of it. They are all life sized - matching both length and girth. The tarpon was somewhere in the 7' category if I remember right - although most of his carvings are Atlantic Salmon and trout. Indanite is right about the music - he has played the bassoon in the Dallas symphony, Kansas City and still plays in the Chautauqua Symphony.

Everything is carved by hand with files, dremels or in some cases a woodburner - and the painting is all done with paintbrushes and oil paints - not airbrushes. Even the eyes - which he assures me are easy to paint - are hand painted. They generally take him about 6 weeks from start to finish. He has never advertised, but a while ago I helped to convince him that a website was in order - not as an advertising tool, but something to allow interested parties to look at photos online rather than sending photos in the mail. Computers are not his bag - he is much more comfortable with a paintbrush in his hand.

I've never posted anything about what he does since I didn't want it to look like an advertisement - besides - his carvings make my plugs look really bad!

He's never done a striper - and every year I hope to catch one that I would consider worthy. I came closer this year, but still not hit that magic personal milestone. But hey its almost may - and maybe he'll give me a discount!!!

I'll bet we have all seen impressive works of art that moves us a bit and inspires us but that work your dad does is truly head of the pack, simply amazing, it's own league. Big Thumbs up from the folks at S-B

[tattoobob]

Very nice work, those look the best I have ever seen

[justplugit]

Your Dad's work is phenominal Lab 1. How he ever parts with them is beyond me. May you catch your personal best this year and have two memories of a lifetime.

[Skitterpop]

Just plain beautiful work...keep going back to look.

[BigFish]

I am speechless......how often does that happen?

I have never seen such fabulous work!

[samurai fisherm]

The detail on these is phenomenal. And the colors are unbelievably lifelike. I wonder how a carving of a fully lite up Mahi Mahi or Yellow Fin Tuna would turn out.

[Springtides]

Scituate Rhode Island's Armand LaMontaigne