Artist Spotlight Series: Stephen R. Smith (Fish Art)

Artist Spotlight Series: Stephen R. Smith
Our good friend and loyal reader, Rick, brought a truly mind boggling artist to the attention of the Eastcoast Angler. The artist is Stephen R. Smith. The art is painted fish carvings. His work is truly of the Ripley’s Believe it or Not stature. I peeped Stephen’s site and could not, I repeat could NOT believe these fish cravings were not real catches.
Here’s the dig on fish carving, straight from Stephen’s site: fish carved models originated in the 19th century. They are an artistic alternative to taxidermy. A fish carving is artfully produced in half relief and then painted on, as if a canvas, to be more precise, a three dimensional canvas. This artwork continued with artisans typically producing salmon and other game fish throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. In this pristine era of angling, carved trophy fish reigned supreme. As the ominous cloud of World War II loomed over the British Empire, the refined elements of angling sputtered into the past.
In steps Stephen R. Smith, encouraged and inspired by friends, he carved and painted his first fish and the angling art world will never be the same. Here’s how Stephen works. To honor the tradition of fish carving, Mr. Smith only produces a limited number of commissions annually. If you are interested in the possibility of your own commission, contact Mr. Stephen Smith here.
In all honesty, check out his work, and if you can’t swing a commissioned carving, simply appreciate his amazing work for the awesome magnificence it is.