The Artistic flies of Mark Romero

[willowhead]

Everyone has their own approach.........i've spent a long time today, all over his site and studying his work........each and every piece. Funny, at his links page, he has Rossman's site listed.......lol. i've known Paul for at least a decada. Taken classes with him twice, and been waiting for his books to finally come out, for probably 4 or 5 years now. The first time i ever saw Rossman's work, (in the Schmookler mag.), it was a day just like this...........VERY depressing, and i was seriously thinking of quiting fly tying........but i snaped out of it after bout a week.
If your not hip to Paul, go here. i've tyed with Paul in N.J. many times and in Oregon, and the Danbury, Conn. show many times.......he's one of my heros. So i go to his site from this cats links page........and the books are finally just about to come out.......so i ordered the (his new) DVD......maybe that'll hlep....or ...........well, "all the bad MFers are in boot hill." Always remember that...........there is ALWAYS! a faster gun out there. And i don't make dumb comparisons.........the cats tying has nothing to do with where i'm at..........it's just those hooks..............jesus h.
If those puppies don't mess you up............you DEAD!

[fflutterffly]

What can you say? Totally off the grid and out of this world. The hooks: This guy has carried the art of fly tying into the world of metal works with imagination and flair. The Banshee looks like it came out of Conan or Lord of the Rings. Amazing. Imagine the time alone to make the hooks. Looking at others art gives you ideas. Willowhead makes me want to try artistic tying...this guy makes it out of reach.

[willowhead]

Excuse me hank.....i forgot to leave you the url for Paul's site above. http://www.creativesalmonflyandart.com

Thankx for the vote of confidence Ariel.....i've email Mr. Kropiwnicki........we'll see......and i'm making plans to go to Somerset in Jan. i'll at least get to see the flies (hooks) live, up close, and in person. i know it's masochistic.....but i've suffered that kind of pain many many many times......and experience teaches. It will be a devastating experience.....but i have to do it.........

[hankaye]

w-h, Howdy;

Thanks for the link.

That guy (Paul), has some really good looking tyes.

But ya know what?


I'm liking your JAZZ flys better.
They have more emotion in them...

hank

[willowhead]

Thankx hank..........it's a very astute observation on your part.........which only goes to prove that you don't have to be an expert (a blessing actually) to be able to tell DE DIFF...............and again, don't get me wrong. NEVER any dumb comparisons..... Technically he's a somewhat better tyer, just in terms of his floss work.....other than that i'm not intimidated by his tying whatsoever..........he's a first rate tyer and on a very high level.........very creative and adventurous.........but that is to be expected of those who spend any length of time in the Salmon fly world, and eventually go off into free-style. He's an equal to hundreds of others world wide. That's not even part of the discussion actually........i mean for me, it's neither here nor there.......i fully appreciate his abilities blah blah blah blah..........Trust me.......i'm a HUGE! fan of his now........he's probably my number 2. favorite in the world now.....simply because of his vision alone...............
But, those hooks are a WHOLE other story...........those hooks.............those *odam* hooks...............jesus h.............those hooks.......
commin' to terms with the fact that i'll never be able to tye on them..................i aint even gonna try to explain that..................

[willowhead]

and hank.....just so there's no confusion.....for the sake of clarity............if i understand you right......your comparison was in reference to Paul.
Just so you know, Paul has no peer on this planet........he simply IS, technically unparralleled.
my above statements were in reference to Val.........so just know that i do not consider myself in the same league with either of them.........i may never reach that level..............but it shall remian fun tryin'..........i am inspired by the work of both, and they are light years beyond my abilities.
next pic soon..............SOON..............tonight.........

[willowhead]

well.....finally, here's the Ass-Backwards Hopper From Mars...........this was done before the Holloween Hopper. Now here's a challange for you..........there will be a prize for the person who can tell me..........."EXACTLY" where i was in the dressing (remember the fly had set for a couple days in the vise because i was at a cross roads so to speak), when the whole hopper thing just sorta took over. But, to win the prize.....you must not only tell me at what point the dressing was, but "HOW" you figured that out.....so i know, that you didn't just guess right. If you go back and follow the thread.........you'll be reminded that i had the fly finished to a degree, when hank entered with his regular enthusiasum, and all of a sudden i got inspired as to "how' i would finish the fly.
Where was i, in the dressing at that point? Tell me, "EXACTLY" where that was, and tell me how you figured that out, and the fly is yours.
Again, this is on an Alex Hayes thin wire hook.

[willowhead]

Ariel, thank you for the kind words..........what you say goes to the heart of all art................musically for example. A composer who writes a piece that only (or for the most part), other musicians can relate to, has accomplished one thing. But a composer who writes a piece, everyone can relate to and find joy in listening to, has accomplished so much more. And the end result is much greater because the message within the art has been shared by so many more. The second accomplishment is much more difficult actually. Technical brilliance is nothing, if the way it is "Utilized" is not in accordance with a greater intent.
(damn, "write that down")..........

[tie2fish]

well.....finally, here's the Ass-Backwards Hopper From Mars...........this was done before the Holloween Hopper. Now here's a challange for you..........there will be a prize for the person who can tell me..........."EXACTLY" where i was in the dressing (remember the fly had set for a couple days in the vise because i was at a cross roads so to speak), when the whole hopper thing just sorta took over. But, to win the prize.....you must not only tell me at what point the dressing was, but "HOW" you figured that out.....so i know, that you didn't just guess right. If you go back and follow the thread.........you'll be reminded that i had the fly finished to a degree, when hank entered with his regular enthusiasum, and all of a sudden i got inspired as to "how' i would finish the fly.
Where was i, in the dressing at that point? Tell me, "EXACTLY" where that was, and tell me how you figured that out, and the fly is yours.
Again, this is on an Alex Hayes thin wire hook.

"
"a deep blue (if the water is deep enough),
boil effect in the center, then more of the bubbly stuff ... "

[hankaye]

w-h, Howdy;

Where was i, in the dressing at that point? Tell me, "EXACTLY" where that was, and tell me how you figured that out, and the fly is yours.
Again, this is on an Alex Hayes thin wire hook.

Went back to the thread that areil had about glasshoopas... You'd said "here goess.........i had this hook (Alex Hayes light wire), in the vise........one-a-the-vises.........lol..........and had a fly goin' on it........but i was stuck, as to what to do next. The fly had two or three of the elements (parts of the recipe), finished already and i just didn't exactly know where i was gonna go next.........well, it's finished. i call it, The Ass-Backwards Grasshopper From Mars. And your gonna need one hell of an imagination.......rotmfflmaffao."

Then back on the 14th you said this in this thread; " 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."

You have also told us more than a few times that you match up beads and hooks then wait for the inspiration to hit to tie the fly that awaits.
So,my best guess is ...

you already had the hook & bead, don't know if you lay down a thread base or not, you'd set the tail and tag, and placed the bead where ya wanted it. Then ya got inspired ...

That's my bestest guess;

hank