The Artistic flies of Mark Romero

[willowhead]

Well, i used Peacock Sword to veil the CDC veilings.....dubbed the body with some light blue very course sparkle dubbing, very well picked out above and below, and ribbed that with some even heavier, and of a different color Kreinik braid, tyed in a combination of dyed blue and purple Amhearst Pheasent tail fibers for an underwing, and also a main wing of light purple Wing & Flash, and a throat (Spey hackle), of dyed dark purple Rhea feather tip. Next is the collar and the head.

[willowhead]

OK, she's finished.......the collar is blue Burnt Spey Hackle, and the second coat is drying on the head.........i painted the head both light and dark blue and the eye (this time made of the gut Partridge sells), is dyed purple. It's is so hard to do justice to hooks this nice.....but i fell pretty good about it. Hopefully, i'll have a pic up before July 6th.

[willowhead]

pic is taken.....be up tomorrow..........

[tie2fish]

We're waiting with "baited" breath ...

[willowhead]

Just got the second coat on the head of the one i just did, all through this past night/morn. This one is on a huge hook, and i wiped out two different shades of white Hareline Ice Dubbing getting the body done. Actually one is called Pearl, and the other is UV Pearl.....just those little amounts they stuff in a couple cubic spaces of a dispenser box. The blend came out real nice. i didn't rib the body, rather i palmered a light blue saddle hackle the entire length, and the first turn of a collar. Then the collar was finished with two different dark and darker blue dyed Grizzley saddle hackles, one (dark), of which also makes up the tail. The wing includes two different synthetics, and two of the light blue saddle hackle feathers, and two of the other (darker) saddle hackle feathers. The head is light and dark blue and the eye is an Aqua Blue which matches the light blue saddle hackle feathers. The bead is blue and white.

[willowhead]

You can't see the beauty of the hook (point/barb area) with it stuck in a cock...........back to the drawing board. Meanwhile, Misa has taken a pic of the most recent fly and i should have that up later this eve. Course eve. for me, is like "Round Midnight" ............."It Begins To Tell.........."
Thank God for having sent us Thelonius Sphere Monk............

[willowhead]

obviously i meant cork........looks like i'll have to take a new pic (of the other fly), with it still in the vise..........meanwhile let's see if the pic Misa took of the newest finished fly looks ok............it's not easy to get a fly this long all clearly in the frame. i didn't wanna spell it train, and i didn't know how to spell it as if it were that thing behind a women's dress.....which was "sorta' how i was thinking of it.........so i just spelled it the way John Coltrane is spelled. After all, one of the great dates of all time is "Blue Trane." Which was actually the only date Trane even did for Blue Note records...........the sinlge most important lable of all time in imho, if one lable has to be singled out.....look at where it began in 1935 and where it is now.......nuff said.....
The 'bullet' part of the name of the fly is to signify the look of the fly........"like a speeding bullet'........and the fact that in Japan, they have the smarts, respect, and common sense to sponser the Mt. Fuji Jazz Festival which, is a Blue Note Records event. "Something Else"

[willowhead]

In an Orchestra (symphonic), the Ramrod is called the Concert Master, and he is always the first violinist. In a Jazz Big band, that position is called Straw Boss, and can be anyone in the band. Sometimes he is also the musical director and sometimes not. But he's the guy who looks our for disciplin and keeps guys in check when they need it.....often times he runs rehearsals if needed or definately if he's the musical diretor. He is sometimes responsible for collecting and paying the band if there is no road manager. Anyway........i named this fly Straw Boss..........having been a road manager for almost three decades.....and having also had the great opprotunity to work with many fine Straw Bosses.........when this fly was finished, it just made me stop and think about those days.
Why.....not even i know........but it's the same kinna thing that's in Trout Magic. Certain mysteries are simply better left at that........
did this fly bout a week ago........

[kanutripr]

Mark looks like you were busy while I was away wasting my time camping. My favourite of the latest ones is the Straw Boss. The proportions and colour relationships is just 'on'.



Vicki

[willowhead]

Thankx Vicki.....i used 8 Pintail feathers in the wing. Every fly is a challange to one degree or the other.....but that's what keeps it fun. And the challanges come in many forms.....both technical, artistically.....not to mention always having to make due with whatever materials you have.....or can find.....lol.
But it is the sum of the parts (meeting those challanges), that determin if your work was worth the effort. Not the time and effort...........the time is always well spent.