
I think I first met Shawn in a discussion about our experiences with our Siberian Husky mixes and basically about how our dogs rule. It turned into fly-fishing, then then OU/Texas, then art. While I’m completely inexperienced in any freehand drawing, I love it and have a several pieces in my house that have been with me for well over a decade.
Shawn Bichsel’s work caught my eye, as he uses various mediums. He said, “Some on my iPad using the Autodesk Sketchbook Pro app, engineering / drafting programs at work, some by hand with nothing more than a pencil or a Sharpie, a jig saw and piece of ply wood.” He also noted, “I’ve been drawing things for as long as I can remember. Fly fishing has been my outlet to the natural world for the last 5 years and I try to make it as solitary a sport as possible for me. I love to get out and ramble the wilds with my friends, but I absorb the most inspiration when I’m alone, on the outside. Simply put: Creating fly fishing art is my fly fishing outlet, when fly fishing isn’t an option.
What sparked my interest in drawing flies was Jeff Kennedy and Jason Borger’s, Drawing Fish and Flies 52 campaign. Their rules are simple, 1 piece a week, in 30 minutes or less. I’ve yet to make the 30 minute cut off, but I have tried to create 1 piece a week since the beginning of the year.
As far as a business plan, I asked? Not unless you consider making enough money to buy beer and fly fishing peripherals a business plan… Nothing takes away my inspiration to do something like being told to do it! (And my wife would be the first to tell you that I suck at sticking to a budget…) Me too man, me too.

Shawn does have some of his work up on Etsy, here. His plan in the future is to start painting, and he’s even had requests for portraits of people and their trophy fish. Lastly, Shawn said, “Play along over on Lines In the Dirt to see all the new stuff. This is something I’ve been able to accomplish thus far, with the exception of this week when I was preparing my first art to be publicly displayed at the Round Rock Arts Council, September exhibit of Digital Art and Sculpture. I submitted several pieces and had 3 accepted for display and sell.”
Thanks again for sharing Shawn. Cheers on your work, and next time I’m in the market, I’ll be giving you a call.











