Mid 1990's Me as an Artist's "Model"...

As artist Jeff Kennedy was preparing for his 'Artist in Residence' week at Gates Au Sable Lodge last fall, he reached out asking if I had any old maps or other materials from the years that I spent in northern Michigan around the Au Sable River and Manistee River.  I went through a few old cigar boxes filled with memories, found a couple of maps, and a stack of photographs that easily date back to the mid 1990's.  I put a package together in hopes that it would give Jeff some inspiration and sent it off in the mail.

Fast forward a few months and hopefully you've already read these two recent T.F.M. posts...

UNVEILING THE JOURNEY - PART 1
UNVEILING THE JOURNEY - PART 2

Yesterday I stopped by the mail box on the way back from town and saw a short cardboard tube with a fly sketched on the end and figured that Jeff was turning the things that I had sent.  Well, he was, but also inside was a colored sketch on his river map that sure does look a lot like the fellow in one of the photos that I sent. 

And, that guy in the photograph was me.  Thankfully Jeff used some artistic license to get me out of those dreadful neoprene waders and PVC coated nylon jacket that I'm wearing.  Those years were tough when it came to comfortable and breathable fly fishing gear.  Maybe it was available but this poor college kid couldn't afford it.  I'm glad that he kept the Filson Tin Cloth Packer Hat on my head.  I cherished that hat and still do, even if I rarely get an opportunity to wear it. 

Thanks, Jeff for the care package.  I've long appreciated your work and it's really neat to have this piece of artwork from the birth place of my own fly fishing journey.  That kid from Michigan would have never guessed where fly fishing and this life would take him. 

Follow Jeff Kennedy on Instagram and maybe we'll cook up some new ideas together centered around the Retro Fly design.  Don't hold me to it but we're talking about maybe a throwback Retro Fly t-shirt or something...