. ” GOING IN STYLE”
Lots of Cedar stumps to be found around my ten acre country home . Each time I find one, it’s seems to speak to me , and I listen of course, who wouldn’t listen to a Cedar stump, it’s been around a lot longer than me.
This stylized Brown creation is my latest and number two in 2019. It turned out pretty good and didn’t give me a lot of trouble and that’s not usually the case. I bet there’s someone out there with just the” SPOT” for this one to live.

” TWO OR ONE ”
These were two interesting creations in 2018. I put them together for the photo and many viewers thought it was one creation. It does really look good that way and although I’ve never tried it, I might. It would probably be a bit pricey and it WOULD be challenging to create. ” WHAT DO YOU THINK ” ?
Jim Wiley

I even kinda remember this. My Dad and Mom were invited to fish on Judge Cunningham’s lake near Clarksville, Tennessee. I begged to go and Dad relented as usual. When we got there the Judge, Dad, and Mom went out on the boat and I was left with a cane pole and a can of worms which I was quite content with. I don’t remember who caught the most fish though I’m sure it was me because I always did. Many years later one of my fishing buddies remarked, ” Wiley, you think like a fish” ! I really don’t know if that was a compliment or a complaint. Any way, my early fishing years progressed to bait casting with plugs to fly fishing to sitting in my studio with my memories, imagination, and possibilities. CANE POLES TO CREATIONS, it’s been a wonderful trip.

I finished 2018 with 55 #wileycreations , also a few unnumbered pieces for friends. I’m bringing in 2019 with a little wild Brook Trout jumping for a Mayfly. It is sculpted from Tupelo swamp wood and presented on a beautiful Manzanita branch. These little eight inch Brookies are my most popular works, so, it’s a good way to ” kick off ” 2019.

. ” GETTING STARTED ”
We didn’t continue our Antique Fishing and Hunting Collectibles business after moving from Florida to Tennessee as building our new home was top priority. After a while though, I started thinking about it. I was moved to create something rather than depend on finding things to sell. Wanda enrolled me in a painting class and soon I began Wildlife on barnwood. This picture here is my first Trout presentation. My brother Bill now owns it.

” HELLO 2019 ”
It’s so good to see you , I’m blessed to have made it ! From a business standpoint, 2018 was a very good year, lots of new folks now decorate their homes with a #wileytrout. To date, there’s over 800 works out there from the good old USA, and a few in Australia and Europe. THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN MY CREATIONS.
From personal standpoint, I’ve fared pretty well, Wanda has had a though year. On April 29th she had a heart attack and a 3 way bypass several days later. Four months later another surgery removing a large tumor that turned out to be Overian cancer , she’ had two Chemo treatments with one more to go.
We’re hoping and PRAYING she’s gotten all her ailments OVERWITH IN 2017,
We’re so blessed and thankful and look forward to more good years. Jim.

METAMORPHOSIS
THIS #wileycreation was only a short time ago a trip to my ” Woodpile of possibilities “. It encouraged me to pick it up, look it over, and I did. I said to myself, ” there’s something fishy about this ” so , with my interest peeked, the chips started flying. This Cedar root was willing to give me a beautiful stylized Brookie.

” EMERGING RAINBOW”
About 18 years ago before I began carving,Wanda and I were displaying our antique fishing Collectibles at the Southeastern Wildlife Festible in Charlston S.C. We had done that show for several years and we things got slow I’d walk around and look at other displays. I was always drawn to an artist that carved animals and birds coming out of driftwood. This then was when the seed was planted and I began my stylized Trout creations. These are my favorite works as I NEVER know just how they’ll turn out because the wood always has something to say about it. This emerging Rainbow seemed to be in a good mood and ALMOST let me have what I wanted.

” THE ESCAPE ”
Stylized works are my favorites, I never know what the wood is willing to give me. This gave me a lot ! Sometimes, I work for hours only to run into a rotten area I can’t work around, so — into the can it goes. This one though was kind and turned out to be one of my best. Nice way to wind up 2018. SOLD.

. STYLIZED BROWN, I love working with driftwood, I never know what it’s willing to give me until it’s finished. This one gave me quite a bit! SOLD.