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The FLYFISH@ Illustrated Pattern Swap III is a done deal! And just what IS this Illustrated Pattern Swap (IPS)? It's an eclectic collection of written and illustrated flyfishing patterns, images and stories created by members of the Internet's "FLYFISH@" Listserv. The IPS has been around for three years, with no end in sight.
One of this year's participants, August Kristoferson from Seattle, Washington summed up the swap nicely when he said to me:
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"It was so cool for people to participate, to undertake and work through the creative process. The wonderful part is that roughly 40 people who are normally too busy, took time out to imagine... to ponder and fantasize. While they might do this sometimes, rarely if ever would they do it repeatedly, intent on creating a permanent artistic expression of their thoughts and feelings. It is a baring of the soul that life's hard knocks sadly condition us to avoid."
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So how'd it start, this FLYFISH@ Illustrated Pattern Swap?
I was trading emails with two superb tyers and FF@ listserv members who lived in Europe, Hans Weilenmann (Holland) and Martin Joergensen (Denmark). Their email descriptions of some of the steps of tying some patterns were not clear to me. I asked if they would resort to the (old fashioned) letter method, provide me with drawings of what they meant by 'this step' or 'that process'. They obliged.
The illustrations were unqiue to these two individuals, quite different in drawing style. I could tell they had fun doing the illustrations. Couple this happening with the fact that I am an inveterate doodler. No artist am I, no talent, but I love all kinds of art. I thought, why not swap ILLUSTRATED how-to-tie fly patterns, instead of the standard swapping of tied flies?
The first IPS was in 1996-1997 and we had 27 participants, that increased to 42 participants in 1997-1998. All of those entries can now be viewed right here on the Virtual Flybox.
The third IPS had 37 entires. The groundrules were changed slightly this year. All illustrations had to be in colour. No black and white, no gray. All colour. The results ARE amazing. The diversity and spectrum even more so. Enjoy the various mediums and methods used to produce these entries.
Onward now to Illustrated Pattern Swap IV for the Year 2000 !
Colorado 1999
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