S. A. Walton Limited Edition Prints- Backwoods Fisherman

BACKWOODS FISHERMAN

Raccoon, Crawdad & Wild Phlox
Image size: 11 1/4 x 8 1/4 inches
Edition Size: 165 very limited number in stock

Price: US $ 30

The inspiration for this piece goes all the way back to my early childhood, when I could occupy myself for hours catching crawdads in clear Ozark creeks, then releasing them to watch them speed away rear-first across the gravelly streambeds. Sometimes the chase was for fishing bait; more often it was simply for the challenge of catching one off-guard or for the practice of grabbing one without getting pinched.

Ozark crayfish from such creeks are very beautiful , clean-shelled creatures of a size not likely to impress a Louisiana cook- but there seemed to be a different type in each river and stream. Those of which I were particularly fond, in Cedar Creek, were a light golden hue the color of the sand, and had rust, white and bluish-black bands across their tails.

This scene is from the flat, shady back woods of our place, where the little creek meanders and braids its way through musclewood and hickory. The flowers were called commonly and by my grandmother "wild sweet william," although they bear no relation to the common garden flower known as sweet william. My grandmother had a particular love for these little wildflowers. The little violet flowers seen here are actually a wild phlox, and have a lovely scent and soft foliage.