ARTIST: Don Balke (North Carolina, 1933 - ???)
TITLE: Royal Wulff
YEAR: 1991
MEDIUM: watercolor and gouache on board
CONDITION: Very good. No visible inpaint under UV light.
ART SIZE: 12 x 20 inches / 30 x 50 cm
BOARD SIZE: 16 x 20 inches / 40 x 50 cm
SIGNATURE: lower right
NOTE: This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day of Issue Maximum Card for the U.S. 29c Royal Wulff stamp issued May 31, 1991. The ice has retreated from the high-mountain lake, and the resident Brook Trout have awakened from winter hungry. Cruising the shallows, a "Brookie" looks up to see a large mayfly resting on the surface. Unable to resist, it strikes at the brightly-colored fly, feels the sting of a hook and a dramatic struggle begins. Many a trout has been deceived by the Royal Wulff since it was created in the 1930s by legendary angler, author and fly-tier Lee Wulff. This dry fly pattern is a variation on the classic Royal Coachman, which has been effective since it was originated in the 1800s. But Wulff's addition of a naturally buoyant tail, easy-to-see white wings and bushy collar of hackle feather have made this a classic in its own right. Lee Wulff wanted the basic appeal of the original fly, but with more durability and higher flotation. So he replaced the original feather tail with tough, buoyant brown calf tail hairs, added lots of dark brown hackle and used wings of durable white calf's tail. Those changes, along with the original sparkling body of peacock tail and bright red floss resulted in a universally accepted and effective dry fly. Although it looks nothing like any natural insect, trout seem to find the Royal Wulff irresistible. Its creator has made many contributions to flyfishing -- including the original many-pocketed fishing vest -- but his place in angling history is assured, thanks to his buoyant, durable dry flies.
PROVENANCE: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.
CATEGORY: old antique vintage painting for auction sale online
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BIOGRAPHY:
Balke, the youngest of ten children, grew up on a farm in northern backcountry of Wisconsin. His family was completely dependent on the land; they tapped trees to make maple syrup; used crosscut saws for logging and horses for their farmwork; they raised crops for themselves and as income. His upbringing instilled in him a love of nature and wildlife. He received his first art award in a Wisconsin state-sponsored art contest while at elementary school for a painting of a black bear roaming in the woods. After serving in the US Army, he married Barbara Schernick and they moved to Chicago where he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts, now known as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. During his time at the Academy, he specialized in still-life paintings. After graduating, he was hired by a Chicago illustrating studio and eventually moved back to Wisconsin where he worked as a commercial art director. He won many awards for his work as an art director and illustrator. On his own time, late in the night, he painted and developed his skills as a wildlife artist. After 17 years, he left his work as an art director to devote himself completely to watercolors and wildlife art. By 1979, they had six children and a home in the village of Thiensville, Wisconsin. Balke's love of nature took him to the NC mountains where he bought 200 acres in McDowell County and built a home. In 1985, a gallery was added and the Don Balke Wildlife Gallery was opened. In 1987, his work was chosen as the illustration for the official NC Zoo poster. In 1992, the United States Post Office issued a series of first-class postage stamps portraying five different species of hummingbirds designed by Balke. Balke travels to Africa, Australia, Ireland, the Caribbean, and across the 50 United States for inspiration and research. His wife, Barbara Schernick Balke, does extensive research on the animals and their habitats in preparation for the paintings and does much of the photography on research trips. He is best known for his detailed and realistic watercolor paintings portraying wildlife in their natural environment. In 2000, he transitioned to a more impressionistic style with oils portraying scenes from Yosemite National Park in California, Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks, and Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.