Fd: How did you decide that being an artist was what you wanted to do in life?
Derek: My connection to the world and the people around me has been through my artwork. I was an average student at best in a family of overachievers academically, but my ability to draw and paint always kept my mom from worrying about me too much. From the very beginning I was known as “the artist”. When I’d meet someone new at school, I’d say, “I’m an artist”, and they would say, “Oh, I know who you are, l’ve seen your artwork hanging in the hallway.” It was that way in 1st grade, and it was that way as a senior in college at Kendall College of Art and Design.
In fact, the first compliment my wife ever gave me when we met at a party was that she liked my artwork. Strange how you can become what you do, but that seems to be the case with me. It has been a good thing for the most part, but with it comes some suffering too. I’m tortured by my paintings that don’t go just the way I want them to. On the other hand, the satisfaction I get from finishing a great painting is immeasurable. It is what keeps me working hard, striving to grow as an artist.
Fd: What made you start portraying fish and how were your first expos to the fly-fishing crowd?
Derek: I am always seeking out the beauty in life and in the world, searching for that magical experience or vision that will inspire me to paint at a higher level. The act of pursuing trout and steelhead with a fly rod contains so many of these magical moments. For me, the truly inspirational vision, both as an artist and as an angler, comes once I’ve landed a particularly beautiful fish. I hold it up, tilting the fish back and forth in the sunlight, allowing all the subtle colors and patterns to come alive.
I find fish so interesting, and they are truly a challenge to capture on canvas. When I paint a fish, I try to capture all the intricacies they possess, their scales, patterns, dimension and texture. When I came on the fly-fishing scene with my vivid bold fish designs, they weren’t always well received. I knew I was on the right track. So I kept at it until overwhelmingly the response to my work was positive. You can’t make everyone happy with your art, but I'll consider it my life’s work to try.
Fd: What were the main events that made you realize that fly-fishing art was the career you wanted to pursue?
Derek: When I first got into the fly fishing world, my goal was to bring something new to the table. I have no illusions that I am the best painter out there, but I think I am one of the more creative artists. I want to bring you something fresh and new every time. That was a challenge in the beginning of my career, because fresh and new is not always welcome. I had people tell me to take a hike and that I would never be embraced by the fly-fishing world. This caused me to work harder. Now, bright and fresh is the norm in the fly-fishing industry. I am proud to have been part of that movement.
Fd: How’s your work routine? What kind of techniques do you apply?
Derek: Many people are surprised by the success I've had so far running DeYoung Studio, as it is a struggle for most artists to create artwork and run a good business. My secret is the people around me. I find supportive people in every direction, and they step up to help me in the ways I need help most. My wife deserves most of the credit for giving me the drive to work hard and to build a future for us. Without her encouragement, I would probably be satisfied having a few paintings hung up at a local coffee shop, and spend the majority of my time chasing trout and steelies. As for the painting itself, that is done strictly by me. I paint oil on canvas or panel, just as artists for thousands of years have. With all the technology available to us today, I keep some aspect of my craft sacred.
Fd: How would you describe your art style?
Derek: My work has veered off from the traditional fish illustration style. I place more importance on using a unique style and palette rather than painting a fish to look photo realistic. The reason I've chosen fish as the subject of my life’s work is I find fish to be intriguing; not just as a fisherman, but as an artist.
Fd: Any time for fly fishing? What are your favorite species and spots?
Derek: I love trout. Brown trout have to be my favorite. Throwing dry flies to trout here in the Northern Rockies is as good as it gets for me. But when I need a change of pace I'm really getting into Tarpon fishing in the Florida Keys. I have never felt as exhilarated as I do when a tarpon takes my fly and all Hell breaks loose! It is truly big game hunting!
Fd: Can you tell us on what collection you're currently working? Is your style moving towards a certain direction?
Derek: With my fish art, I try to find a whole new angle to it. Any artist that isn't looking at new challenges and how to broaden their skill set isn't growing. The goal here for me is to become an old man who has experienced many interesting things in life through his passion for painting. These new challenges don't always translate into what I might sell more of per say. But to continually develop my style in painting fish and riverscapes is important. It is inspiring to me... chasing trout in some of the Northern Rockies’ most beautiful rivers and lakes, I often set the rod down and consider the scene in front of me, not in how to best fish it but how to best paint it.
Fd: In what kind of products can we see your great work these days?
Derek: The Simms-DeYoung Artist Series line includes everything from T-shirts and other apparel items to fly boxes, water bottles and cigar humidors. The DeYoung Series Abel Reels are an artistic fly-fishing addition that makes all of these special reels instant collectables. Each reel is hand painted with anodized metal based on my paintings and some of my paintings are specifically designed for the Abel Reels. Seven of my paintings from Montana, Alaska and the Florida Keys create the By DeYoung Series Buff UV Protective Headwear Line. A year or so ago, when the folks at Burton Snowboards asked me to submit some fish art for their 2014 “Fish Board”, I felt the “Trout Confetti” series would be the perfect fit. It related to fly fishing only in a sense of celebrating something that fly anglers covet so dearly: trout. But other than that, it was a study of color, pattern and form.
Redfish-Confetti from derekdeyoung on Vimeo.
Fd: What advice would you give to the starting artists that want to get into the fly-fishing world?
Derek: Simply this: if you are wholly passionate about your art, and are true to your own vision, people will love you for that, because it is a rare thing. Don’t worry about your “success” as an artist, concentrate instead on putting out the best art that you possibly can; art that on your dying day you can look back on and have no regrets, and feel proud and privileged to have spent your life creating it.
Derek: My connection to the world and the people around me has been through my artwork. I was an average student at best in a family of overachievers academically, but my ability to draw and paint always kept my mom from worrying about me too much. From the very beginning I was known as “the artist”. When I’d meet someone new at school, I’d say, “I’m an artist”, and they would say, “Oh, I know who you are, l’ve seen your artwork hanging in the hallway.” It was that way in 1st grade, and it was that way as a senior in college at Kendall College of Art and Design.
In fact, the first compliment my wife ever gave me when we met at a party was that she liked my artwork. Strange how you can become what you do, but that seems to be the case with me. It has been a good thing for the most part, but with it comes some suffering too. I’m tortured by my paintings that don’t go just the way I want them to. On the other hand, the satisfaction I get from finishing a great painting is immeasurable. It is what keeps me working hard, striving to grow as an artist.
Fd: What made you start portraying fish and how were your first expos to the fly-fishing crowd?
Derek: I am always seeking out the beauty in life and in the world, searching for that magical experience or vision that will inspire me to paint at a higher level. The act of pursuing trout and steelhead with a fly rod contains so many of these magical moments. For me, the truly inspirational vision, both as an artist and as an angler, comes once I’ve landed a particularly beautiful fish. I hold it up, tilting the fish back and forth in the sunlight, allowing all the subtle colors and patterns to come alive.
I find fish so interesting, and they are truly a challenge to capture on canvas. When I paint a fish, I try to capture all the intricacies they possess, their scales, patterns, dimension and texture. When I came on the fly-fishing scene with my vivid bold fish designs, they weren’t always well received. I knew I was on the right track. So I kept at it until overwhelmingly the response to my work was positive. You can’t make everyone happy with your art, but I'll consider it my life’s work to try.
Fd: What were the main events that made you realize that fly-fishing art was the career you wanted to pursue?Derek: When I first got into the fly fishing world, my goal was to bring something new to the table. I have no illusions that I am the best painter out there, but I think I am one of the more creative artists. I want to bring you something fresh and new every time. That was a challenge in the beginning of my career, because fresh and new is not always welcome. I had people tell me to take a hike and that I would never be embraced by the fly-fishing world. This caused me to work harder. Now, bright and fresh is the norm in the fly-fishing industry. I am proud to have been part of that movement.
Fd: How’s your work routine? What kind of techniques do you apply?
Derek: Many people are surprised by the success I've had so far running DeYoung Studio, as it is a struggle for most artists to create artwork and run a good business. My secret is the people around me. I find supportive people in every direction, and they step up to help me in the ways I need help most. My wife deserves most of the credit for giving me the drive to work hard and to build a future for us. Without her encouragement, I would probably be satisfied having a few paintings hung up at a local coffee shop, and spend the majority of my time chasing trout and steelies. As for the painting itself, that is done strictly by me. I paint oil on canvas or panel, just as artists for thousands of years have. With all the technology available to us today, I keep some aspect of my craft sacred.
Fd: How would you describe your art style?
Derek: My work has veered off from the traditional fish illustration style. I place more importance on using a unique style and palette rather than painting a fish to look photo realistic. The reason I've chosen fish as the subject of my life’s work is I find fish to be intriguing; not just as a fisherman, but as an artist.
Fd: Any time for fly fishing? What are your favorite species and spots?
Derek: I love trout. Brown trout have to be my favorite. Throwing dry flies to trout here in the Northern Rockies is as good as it gets for me. But when I need a change of pace I'm really getting into Tarpon fishing in the Florida Keys. I have never felt as exhilarated as I do when a tarpon takes my fly and all Hell breaks loose! It is truly big game hunting!
Fd: Can you tell us on what collection you're currently working? Is your style moving towards a certain direction?
Derek: With my fish art, I try to find a whole new angle to it. Any artist that isn't looking at new challenges and how to broaden their skill set isn't growing. The goal here for me is to become an old man who has experienced many interesting things in life through his passion for painting. These new challenges don't always translate into what I might sell more of per say. But to continually develop my style in painting fish and riverscapes is important. It is inspiring to me... chasing trout in some of the Northern Rockies’ most beautiful rivers and lakes, I often set the rod down and consider the scene in front of me, not in how to best fish it but how to best paint it.
Fd: In what kind of products can we see your great work these days?
Derek: The Simms-DeYoung Artist Series line includes everything from T-shirts and other apparel items to fly boxes, water bottles and cigar humidors. The DeYoung Series Abel Reels are an artistic fly-fishing addition that makes all of these special reels instant collectables. Each reel is hand painted with anodized metal based on my paintings and some of my paintings are specifically designed for the Abel Reels. Seven of my paintings from Montana, Alaska and the Florida Keys create the By DeYoung Series Buff UV Protective Headwear Line. A year or so ago, when the folks at Burton Snowboards asked me to submit some fish art for their 2014 “Fish Board”, I felt the “Trout Confetti” series would be the perfect fit. It related to fly fishing only in a sense of celebrating something that fly anglers covet so dearly: trout. But other than that, it was a study of color, pattern and form.
Redfish-Confetti from derekdeyoung on Vimeo.
Fd: What advice would you give to the starting artists that want to get into the fly-fishing world?
Derek: Simply this: if you are wholly passionate about your art, and are true to your own vision, people will love you for that, because it is a rare thing. Don’t worry about your “success” as an artist, concentrate instead on putting out the best art that you possibly can; art that on your dying day you can look back on and have no regrets, and feel proud and privileged to have spent your life creating it.
Find more about Derek's work at: derekdeyoung.com
