Labrador Wilderness
Sub-Artic
What is a Fish Portrait? Well, they are something David Footer Loved to create for his customers.
A fish portrait was an oil painting of the fish of the customer’s choice; the actual size and contents of 
the painting are selected by the customers. David had thousands of outlines of actual fish that he was able to use. Here is a small selection of the commissioned paintings he did for customers. Hope you enjoy seeing his work!
Brown Trout caught in Connecticut.
The Purpose: was to help his customers capture a very special moment in time, forever.
Dave’s whole goal was to create a painting which would bring to life the exciting feelings of a moment his customers have had or would like to experience. Like the day they were fishing with their wife and she brought in a nice five pound salmon all the way up to the boat. Just as she pulled it up out of the water it spit out the hook but it was the biggest fish she ever caught out on the lake and right in front of the family’s cabin. There was not an actual fish to mount but it was the most exciting day the two had ever experienced as fishing buddies. Or as the portrait below is of the one Caught and Released in Labrador.
He recreated the fish from their description and with his many outlines, he worked with them to make it happen. It was very important to him that he could make this happen for them. He did this by asking some important questions about their special experiences.
Take a look at this beautiful scene of Lower Dam on a “Catch and Release” only section of river in Maine. Where Brook Trout were found to be growing to sizes that were rarely seen in the last few decades. Dave entered this commissioned “Lower Dam Heart Stopper” in the Augusta Sportsman Show the year he completed it and was very pleased to bring home the Blue Ribbon Prize.
Below is a list of some of the key points that he needed to know in order to create those special memories:
What kind of fish is to be represented?
- Did they have any pictures or color photos?
- What was the location of the event? (ie. wilderness , local, etc.)
- What other content would be represented in the picture? (ie. people, cabin, insects, birds, boats, trees, etc.)
- What was the size of the fish? (should be actual size)
- What size painting did they want?
- What had they wanted the painting on? (ie. Canvas, Masonite, Wood, etc.)
How David did it? A rough sketch of painting was created for the customer to actual size. He mailed them the sketch of painting, they gave their approval or corrections if any, plus any additional information. Eventually they reached an agreement on the content, size and cost. He gave an estimate of time for completion (usually one year). And finally after all of the terms had been discussed and agreed upon, He would accept a deposit for the project.
And then he brought to life the memories like this Free Spirit, Landlock Salmon, the one that got away in Maine.
PRICELESS! BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER AND JOY SHARED IS DOUBLED!
Hope you have enjoyed viewing some of David’s commissioned pieces.
Please Note: All publishing rights are reserved