MIDCURRENT.COM !!

I am very honored and excited to announce that MIDCURRENT.COM, a site dedicated to fly fishing,  has agreed to feature a sampling of my prints in their next newsletter which will be out this Wednesday.  A big shout out to Midcurrent publisher, Marshall Cutchin, for taking an interest in my art and as Bon Iver's Justin Vernon would awkwardly say, "The sweet hook-up".  Along with the feature, my work will be seen in their artist thumbnail gallery for further viewing amidst the company of some of the most renowned artists akin to the sport of fly fishing.  It is a true privilege to have my work seen on their pages, and I am very grateful for the opportunity.  Please peep it out at midcurrent.com/art/joshdesmit. 

Soooo...How about a piece that will be seen on the site you ask? Absofrigginlutely.

Pick A Winner 2011
Spray Paint, Sharpie, Water-Based Crayon
11"x10"
Original Sold

To The U.P.!!

Headin' to the land of the Yooper.  Hopefully get in a day of fishing if the clouds part and rays of hope hit the river just right.  Should have plenty of new material to write aboot after da weekend up der ya, eh?  Will be working on the latest and greatest prints this weekend as well.  Next week will be a busy bloggin' bonanz'.  Totals.  Until Monday, stay fresh.

Recipes!

Thanks pops for the callout.  It was brought to my attention that my blog is in disarray...#parentalguidance.  Dad was thumbing through my vast array of posts, and as a man of the vice, he naturally wanted to tie the flies that were set before him.  However, to his dismay a certain chap, the so-called "brains" of this operation, forgot to provide a list of materials needed to complete said imitations.  So, like Emeril trying to bribe his way out of a parking ticket, I will gladly offer up some recipes.  Also, since it has been a bit since my last post perhaps a look into the arting life is in order...maybe a hot jam or two or three to spin on the wheels of steel...while spinning deer hair. 

Hows about we kick out a few remixes whilst tying these creatures.  First up, everyone fell in love with Foster the People last summer, fact.  So let us fall in love with RAC's take on Houdini.

Mixed Dub Foam Back Emerger

Hook:  Favorite Scud/Emerger size 12-16

Thread:  Brown or Tan

Tail:  Brown Hen Hackle Fibers, trimmed

Abdomen:  Mix Rust and Olive Dubbing
Thorax: Mix Rust and Black Ice Dubbinski
Wingcase: .5mm Brown Closed-Cell Foam

Legs: Partridge

Do the d-a-n-c-e, 1-2-3-4 fight,  stick to the b-e-a-t, get ready to ignite...A bit of an older remix, but one of my favorites.  MSTRKRFT is beaut on this edit of Justice-D.A.N.C.E.

Foam Butt Rusty

Hook:  Fav Dry Fly size 10-16

Thread: Red

Butt:  .5mm Yellow Closed-Cell Foam, cut to egg sack shape

Tail:   Brown Hen Hackle Fibers

Abdomen:  Rust Dub

Wingcase (For Buoancy): .5mm Brown Closed-Cell Foam

Wing:  White Poly Yarn

Last, but not least, Grum revamps the easily mixed vocals of The Good Natured's lead woman Sarah McIntosh.  Song is Skeleton.  Great workout tune.

Stone Zone Black

Hook: Stimulator size 6-10

Thread: Red

Tail:  White Deer Hair

Body:  1mm or .5mm Closed-Cell Foam Black(top), Tan or Gray(bottom)

Underwing:  White Antron or Zlon, or Krystal Flash

Wing:  Black Deer Hair

Head:  Black Ice Dub

Legs/Antennae:  Black/White Centipede

ARRRRT FIX!! Get it hot and fresh out the kitchen! 

Girls Fly Too 2012
Monotype, Spray Paint, Sharpie, Oil Pastel
20"x14"

So...I'm fresh off a return trip from the white, north frost-hole of Finland, and let me holler that it is good to be in the States again.  A goal to play professional hockey was satiated while I was abroad, and an experience it certainly was.  Sadly, I happened to be in an area riddled with rivers and streams alike for several months with no fly rod and a layer of ice over most of them that would give wedding cake a short man's complex.  But hey, at least the tying bench had it's days...so many days...winter knows where to shove it at this point.  Tying has consumed a better part of my brain over these last several months and it has continued upon my return.  Practice is certainly not making perfect, but it is amazing how time on the vice equates to better and better flies.  Due to my pending unemployment, art and tying of the fly are topping the list of choice activities.  Sean, my better half's brother, swung by yesterday to whip up a couple bugs.  He is just getting started, and it was really fun to help him with some of the basics and to revisit some of the flies that I first tied when starting out.  We were able to hack out some classics like the Adams, Woolly Bugger, EHC, and one of my favorites, the Bird's Nest all the while listening to the glorious Minnesota Public Radio's 89.3 The Current.  Of course the only thing left to do is fish these little creations and hearing "Go Outsitde" by Cults practically had me in the car to So. Minnesota for some spring creek action...maybe soon!  On that note let me share with you a pattern or two that I came up with across the pond and how about a link so you all can sample Cults and wanna get the hell outside.  Lates until next time.

Cults-Go Outside  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAM9diyVRiM

Mixed Dub Foam Back Emerger #12-16

Foam Butt Rusty #10-16

Stone Zone Black #8

Welcome to Stoneflies and Spray Paint!

A warm hello to all of you art fans, fly fishers, and general blog hoppers.  This is Stoneflies and Spray Paint.  My name is Josh DeSmit, of Minneapolis, MN, and I am glad to join the ranks in the realm of rants and ramblings.  I am an artist, avid outdoorsman of the next generation, mix of city boy and back woods, and now a blogger.  My goal for this blog is to treat it's readers to the smattering of influences that drive my unique take on fly fishing art such as:  trout and other bug suckers, flies from the bench, hunting, street artists, fine artists, music, fashion, people, the Driftless Region, Michigan's U.P., and more. On that note I will start you off with my artist statement and a tidbit of my work.  Thanks for tuning in, keep your stick on the ice, and enjoy!

Artist Statement:

The goal for my body of work is to illuminate the liminality of the contemporary sporting life, especially that of the fly fisher.  By combining a group of imagery gathered through experiences while fly fishing the rural rivers of the mid-west with elements of grafitti and street art found in urban centers, I aim to express the duality of city life and the weekend getaway (or the after work getaway for that matter) through my art.  Many young fly fishermen and women are growing up in a stimulating society, and the traditionally static artistic portrayals of the sport fail to relate to these up-and-comer's lifestyles and experiences had while juggling everything and fishing.  My art accentuates the chaos, detail, and beauty that result from such a young fly fisher feeding in the film between urban and rural, school and work, a girl and beer.  All the while making lasting memories on the stream when able.  Robert Traver wrote in his book Trout Madness, "The best time to go fishing is when you can get away." I have yet to prove him wrong.

Transfer of Knowledge

15.5"x11.75"

Monotype, Collage, Spray Paint, Sharpie, Water-based Crayon, Pen

Release Fish, Keep Tale

16"x11"

Monotype, Spray Paint, Sharpie, Water-based Crayon