The Artistic flies of Mark Romero

[willowhead]

Well.....you know how these things go.......sweet little rascle Misako-chan went and took the pic, when i was in town earlier today........ ......so, i wasn't able to primp and or position the fly exactly the way i would of liked.........but be that as it may........i'm thankful she found time anway.
Because she didn't put any emphasis on getting any detail captured in terms of the head, it's pretty much impossible to see that it made up og a Kreinik braid material.....but anyway.......look a bit strange from the angle of this pic..........but it is what it is, as they all are.
Now i know weren't none of you actually expectin' a grasshopper............ ............but i can see it.........and if you can't.....maybe you need a little somma what i got.......... .........i swear doin' the hook was the most fun part........
i'll try and get the Ass-Backwards Hopper from Mars up tomorrow.....it was actually tyed first........

i trust at this point.....there should be no need for me to have to say, click the pic for best results......

[letumgo]

My mind boggles, as I try to comprehend how difficult it must have been to tye this fly on such a curved (read flexible) hook. Sometimes I think your creativity boarders on masochism. (read as awestruck)

Mark - You are a fearless tyer! BRAVO!!!

Nice hopper...

[willowhead]

Ray, here's another angle of the fly............and thankx for the kind comments.........but i gotta tell you...........the fear factor is always there........the tying is just a pretty darn feeble attempt to over-come it...............the way i c the world has a lot to do with the fact that from my point of view, most people live in fear. Fear of this and fear of that.........alllllllll kinna fear(s)..........and we REALLY need to cool it with all that.............HELLO!
anyway...................such as it is......... ...............i still think i should of added another hackle up front.....and i still can actually.....
btw, that main wing feather is not a Marabou feather.....it's actually a dyed black BEP feather.....

[letumgo]

Sweet!

(hank - "BEP" stands for Blue Eared Pheasant)

[willowhead]

Here a couple angles of a fly i did.....maybe 10 days ago.....just a guess. .....i'm "pretty" happy with this fly.....which does not happen that often.

the bottom pic is a bit sharper.....

[letumgo]

The bead creates an interesting optical illusion. At first glance, the hook appears to be bent upwards at the front. I think it is the way the eye follows the color of the red along the bottom of the bead. The curvature of the tail adds to the illusion. Very cool.

[hankaye]

w-h, Howdy;

Gotta say I'm impressed with that one.

Sweet!

(hank - "BEP" stands for Blue Eared Pheasant)

Thanks Ray

hank

[willowhead]

Thankx fellas........Ray.....when i set a tail........i'm tryin' to give equal justice (50%/50%), to the task at hand.........in terms of (and i use the tail in this instance, as an example, for all the obvious reasons if you know bout Salmon fly dressing), doing things traditionally in the technical sense, design wise, and also artistically, for effect and or "Exactly" what you just assertained and alluded to.........illusion.........it's almost like magic or slight of hand. "Three Card Molly"........kinna thing..........although i never actually think of it...........like that...............while in performance. i'm so lost in the execution.........nothin' phoney is on my mind or in my consciousness.........yet, creating effect, and always tryin' to keep it beautiful is the name of the game............whatever that takes..............given my limitations technically, emotionally and philisophically.
As an artist, you MUST remain true to yourself............or it's all bull****.......yet each and every time a challange appears.........ah, like putting a hook in the vise..... .....you still have to step up to the plate and go on a quest for knowledge. Try to frickin' learn somethin'. There are always ways to cheat......but you know every single time, if just because there is......wether or not that route will add to, or detract from, the final piece of work. So there's no himmin' or hawin' bout it.........it's pure "choices." i can't hardly think of anything MO fun.

[fflutterffly]

I feel like I enter an art exhibit when ever I get on this site. These are not only beautiful works, but express and imagination. Great way to spend the morning before work..looking at art.

[tie2fish]

Both of these most recently posted flies are inspired to say the least. Although there is a fairly well established framework underlying the majority Mark's "Artistic" dressings (hook, tag, tail, butt, bead, thorax, wing, throat, hackle and head) each and every one of them is a unique combination of colors, shapes, lines and textures ... a new creation virtually every time out. I have no idea how he does this, but then I was never able to figure out Piccaso or Dali either, so I'll settle for just enjoying the results.