The Art in Fishing

About Dave

Through Mike's mentorship, I discovered that making art is a lot like fishing: part skill, part instinct, and a whole lot of trust in the unknown.

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, and 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.

Dave — artist and fisherman

Mike taught me to see how color and texture can cast deep into memory, emotion, and meaning. The Art in Fishing grew from that lesson, 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.

I work on weathered steel because the surface carries its own history before the first brushstroke. The rust, the texture, the weight of the material all become part of the work. I've never wanted the paintings to look like illustrations, I want them to feel like memory.

The Tetons — fishing country

I fish wherever the fish are, Idaho, Montana, Michigan or the coastal waters. The work follows the fishing. I don't think I could do it the other way around.

Commissions

Your Fish, Your Story

I take a small number of commissions each year. Every commission begins with a conversation, about the fish, the water, the day it happened. The painting comes from that story. If you have a fish / adventure worth remembering, I'd like to hear about it.