Bottle Cap Fish provide an outlet for four of my passions - fly fishing (bottle cap fish are much easier to catch than the real ones but I keep trying), protecting the beautiful environment God has blessed us with, being creative, and enjoying good beer. Bottle Cap Table tops are a practical way to recycle bottle caps and have some fun at the same time. Drink Can Airplanes have no real practical application, but then little art has a very practical application other than covering a piece of a blank wall and giving enjoyment to the viewer and creator.
By way of background I'm originally from Arkansas where I was raised along the banks of the Mighty Mississippi feasting on the Delta Blues of Sonny Boy Williamson and Robert Lockwood Jr playing live in the studio of KFFA Radio. My art background began in the 4th Grade in an art class offered by a local artist. Other than that there has been no formal art education. I simply enjoy working with my hands making all manner of things from Bottle Cap Fish to decks, tables and kayak storage racks.
My love for fishing came as a natural outgrowth of living along the Mississippi River and near the White River. I began to learn fly fishing in my late teens and continue to learn as do all fly anglers until the day the Big Fisherman lands us. I've been around fisherman all my life, including my grandfather, father, uncles and several bosses over the years. They all taught me to appreciate the beauty of fish in general but especially bass. I have been fortunate enough to learn the beauty of trout both on my own and with my son who is a much more accomplished fly angler and artist than I. When he and I are able to head out to the fast water together we are always accompanied by some excellent local brew.
The Bottle Caps used give the fish the appearance scales along with the shimmer that scales produce. The nail heads that are visible on the caps give the fish a level of detail the came as the scales have on a real fish. The fins of the fish are created using cans or sheet aluminum overlaid with a bottle label. The spins in the fins are create by crimping the metal so that it has ridges, resembling those of real fish fins. Each fish is individually created with each cap attached separately by hand.
