The ART
in Fishing
Every cast tells a story.
The Collection
Works
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The hatch begins before the light does. I painted this from memory, the way the mist sits low on the Beaverkill in early June.
Westslope Cutthroat
2023Acrylics on weathered Steel
Some pools hold you. You wade in and the world narrows to the sound of water and the weight of the line.
Brook Trout
2025Acrylics on weathered steel
A study of the Pale Morning Dun, the fly that has fooled more trout, and more fishermen, than any other.
Bow to the Tarpon
2024Acrylics on weathered steel
As the sun rises and the water boils my day couldn't start off better.
First Light
2020Morning on the water (Boca Grande, FL)
Piece of the Week - Chinook in Spawn Colors
The Confluence
2024 · Acrylics on weathered steel
The Art in Fishing – Artist Dave Williams After more than 30 years in urban redevelopment, I’ve learned that art is often the first force to breathe new life into forgotten places. Along the way, I was fortunate to reconnect with internationally recognized, Dayton artist Mike Elsass. Through his mentorship, I discovered that making art is a lot like fishing: part skill, part instinct, and a whole lot of trust in the unknown. Mike taught me to see how color and texture can cast deep into memory, emotion, and meaning. The Art in Fishing is a collection of works that explore the inherent beauty of fish species through dynamic, abstract compositions on weathered steel, using layered acrylics. Each piece captures the distinctive patterns and colors of a fish in a way that honors both its natural essence and the thrill of the catch. A resin finish seals each work preserving the moment as if the fish had just been lifted from the water. This body of work connects the wild places I love with the creative spirit I’ve always carried. Fishing has taken me to quiet waters and crashing surf, to sunrise solitude and shared laughter. It’s deepened my connection to nature and brought me closer to friends, family, and myself.
From the Mountain Meadows
“Mountain peaks, alpine lakes, flowing rivers, nature's inspiration.”
Some of my most cherished memories are the backpacking trips I shared with my Idaho buddies. Those adventures will forever be etched in my memory. The challenges we faced, the laughter we shared, and the friendships we strengthened were second to none. Together, we hiked through the rugged Sawtooth Mountains in search of cutthroat trout, surrounded by a sense of freedom that only the wilderness can offer. Those days tested our endurance, rewarded our perseverance, and reminded us that life's greatest treasures are often found far from the comforts of civilization.
The Artist
About Dave
I came to painting through fishing, and to fishing through my father. He was a patient man in most things, on the water he was still, and that stillness was the first beautiful thing I ever tried to understand. I've been painting the rivers, the fish, and the light between them for over the years. The work is my attempt to hold onto something that keeps moving.