#749 "Trout Pool"

My studio is located on a premier trout stream in Wyoming that is loaded with brown trout.

I often walk the river and know the deep trout pools by heart.

"Trout Pool"
Bas-relief Wall Mount
9"H 17"W 1.5"D
Ed. Size 35
1800

Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#748 "The One That Got Away"

"The One That Got Away"

6"H 12"W 4"D

Ed Size 35

1,500

Above is the one that got away.


Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#747 "Hooked"

With the Wyoming winter upon me,
 I'm dreaming of spring and Rocky Mountain streams.

 "Hooked"
6"H 11"W 5"D
Ed. Size 35
1,500



Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#735 "The Rise", "The Hatch"

"The Rise"

9"H 15"W 6"D

Edition 35

1,800

"The Hatch"

8"H  12"W 7"D

Edition 35

1,800

Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#553 In the field: Wilderness aesthetics, con't . . .

Please start this series of blogposts with #549, Wed. July 23

 Last month, we spent the week of my birthday in the Colorado high country.  We explored lower
elevations in the vicinity of our cabin as well and encountered different flora and fauna . . .
the change of terrain was dramatic.  We followed familiar roads that, for the most part, followed
the creeks and tributaries that cut through the wilderness meadows to the beautiful, rolling foothills.

Below, is a landscape panorama showing the mountains in the distance and the
open country that we experienced in the foothills.

Fishing sunlit waters for Brook Trout, we looked for cut banks, overhangs, and shadows since brookies are
very secretive and one must sneak up on them.  The wild trout are only 4 to 10 inches and the creeks are
typically narrow with an occasional beaver pond that always promises action.  The best fishing is off the
beaten path and hiking is necessary.  Public land abounds and a BLM map will show you the way.

Below, is a stringer of brookies for the frying pan . . . although small, they are delicious and have very dark red meat.

Below, we saw lots of Pronghorn and Mule Deer as we made our way down from the high country to  lower elevations.

Below, are drawings and etchings of Mule Deer and Pronghorn.

Below, is a bronze sculpture entitled Muley hunter's Hook

Below, is an original etching entitled, "Lunch".

Below, is my recipe for trout pate'.

4 freshly caught gilled and gutted small trout
Fry trout in butter, canola oil, olive oil, or bacon fat, 4 to 5 min. per side
then take off skin and debone.
Mix flaked trout with 1 8oz. package of cream cheese and season with
lemon, hot sauce. lemon pepper if desired.
Mix in mayo for a nice consistency.
Mix in only ONE of the following ingredients . . . more that one confuses the taste buds.
Capers, onion, horseradish, green olives, black olives, tapenade, dill pickle relish,
sweet pickle relish, chopped pepperoncini, porcini, garlic, etc.

Note: The following herbs go well with trout . . . dill, chives, thyme, rosemary, parsley, cilantro.

Put mixture in a covered crock, refridgerate . . . spread on crusty bread and enjoy with red wine.

To learn more about the subjects go to the links below.

For a complete list of the blog index go to the Index Page and

type the subject in the Search This Blog link on the right.

Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#551 In the field: Wilderness aesthetics

This morning, Trish and I returned to our cabin in northern Colorado after an
"in the field" adventure in Colorado's high country.  We spent the week of my birthday - see the preceding blogpost - in a remote rustic cabin,  fishing, hiking, exploring, photographing, and sketching wildlife in the Rocky Mountains.

Every wildlife artist needs to recharge the "creative batteries" and being in uninhabited areas where the wild things are is the place to do it.  While most
of the week was spent in the rugged mountains just below the timberline, we explored the beautiful rolling foothills as well and experienced different flora and fauna at each elevation.  Over the years, I had spent so much time in the area that the backcountry roads were familiar to me and I had learned where animals - not people - were likely to be.  This trip did not disappoint and produced a wealth of reference for future sculpture projects. 

Just being there was exhilarating!  The physical beauty is hard to imagine:

Fragrant pine forests; aspen-lined, flowery meadows; rushing trout streams; crisp, cold nights by a wood stove; sizzling trout and
boiled coffee for breakfast . . . the day's adventure ahead!                                                                     

Below, while Trish chooses a fly to catch a Rainbow Trout, in the distance, a cow moose exits the water to join her calf.
The trout in high-mountain lakes don't get very big and they are what we call, "breakfast trout" . . .
four of them fit perfectly in a skillet and are delicious!

In the photo below, note the dark shape of the cow feeding on the shallow lake bottom in the distance.

Below, this beat-up Renegade fly saw lots of action . . . we ate what we caught and had fish every meal.

Below. fishcakes, champagne, and the wilderness shared with my best friend . . .
great memories of my 71st!
 Wilderness Aesthetics . . . to be con't.

The ultimate trout fishcake recipe:

4 freshly caught gilled and gutted 8 - 10 inch trout
fry trout in oil approx. 3 - 4 minutes per side, then take off skin and debone
Mix flaked trout with mashed potatoes,  a little mayo, Dijon mustard, lemon pepper
Capers or horseradish if desired but not chopped onion . . . cakes break apart
Form into cakes, dip into egg, then crumbs.
 Sauté' in canola oil or butter 'til golden brown



Below, are images of trout species found in Colorado.  The watercolor-tinted etchings hang in the Colorado cabin.

To learn more about the subjects go to the links below.

For a complete list of the blog index go to the Index Page and

type the subject in the Search This Blog link on the right.

Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#550 In the field: Birthday week . . . fishing

Today,  the sun enters Leo - the fifth sign of the zodiac - and tomorrow is my birthday.

This blogpost has been preposted and as you read it, I will be where I always am during my birthday week: Fishing.
This year,  the dogs, Trish and I are in the Colorado high-country, trout fishing.
We're staying in a little rustic housekeeping cabin near our favorite fishing area.

Most years, we are at the island studio on Lake of the Woods in Ontario, Canada in July but this year, due to
a belated departure to the north country which happens next month, we returned to a place a couple
of hours from our Colorado cabin where I've celebrated July 24th a few times in the past.
One thing is certain . . . when late July comes around, I'll have a rod in my hand!

Below, countless unforgettable outdoor experiences have occurred while on the water and
I yearn for and covet the time spent in wild places . . . it is the source of my creativity.
Happiness is heading out to a favorite fishing spot!

Below, is a photo taken a few years ago while trout fishing in a freezing cold rain at our favorite lake in
northern Colorado on my birthday.  The place is just below timberline and is heavily populated with moose.
These critters sauntered out to feed on the lush grass in the shallows.

One year, a yearling calf became enamored with our little motorhome and every morning while the coffee brewed,
she licked the windshield.  She may have been after the glue on the inspection stickers.  Photos are below.

Another year, we saw this beautiful bull in velvet in the meadow next to camp.

Below, gilled and gutted Brown Trout ready for the frying pan!

Below, is a watercolor painting of a Rainbow Trout.

To learn more about the subjects go to the links below.

For a complete list of the blog index go to the Index Page and

type the subject in the Search This Blog link on the upper right.

Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#446: In the field and studio: "firsts"

The first great event of my life was a family summer vacation to Yellowstone when I was 13.  The Wyoming trip plunged my young life into a rich adventure which would change me forever . . . it was the beginning of a spell that the West has had on me to this day.

Having never traveled beyond Oklahoma, this event presented many "firsts" in my young life:
First time in a boat, caught my first fish - a Cutthroat Trout . . .  saw my first Elk, Antelope, Moose, Bald Eagle,
Grizzly, Bison, and Mule Deer.

The experience revealed the treasures and possibilities that lay ahead in life:  I now live just two hours from
Yellowstone and never fail to reflect upon and realize the meaning of that summer vacation long ago . . .
the vast and wondrous frontiers waiting to be explored were unveiled during that first trip out West.

 Below, a watercolor from my sketch book.

Below, a recent sculpture . . . Elk Bull and Cow Bookends  15"H 14"W 8"D

Below, a clay sketch in progress of an antelope bust

Below, a small oil study of a moose  5" x 7"

Below, dedication of Presidential Eagle at the National Museum of Wildlife Art . . . with Bill Kerr, founder 

Jackson, Wyoming

Below, Tail hook  19"H 36"L 18"D

Below, Buffalo Fragment II  18"H 17"W 7"D

All painting, sculpture and etchings - copyright Sandy Scott