My good friend on whom's boat I do probably 3/4 of my yearly fishing asked me to do something with a map of the part of the Kenai river his cabin is on. Of course my imagination ran away with me but if he doesn't like this I'll do another one for him. 

I took the idea of the shape of a red salmon with an accurate map contained within it. I spent some days referencing a bunch of different maps and sketching, then transferred the whole idea to a woodblock and started cutting.

After I trace the original drawing in reverse (otherwise the river would be flowing the wrong way in the finished print) and transfer it to the block I do my initial cuts and outlines. I like to go over my first set of cuts with a red marker to show what wood I left behind and what details I can still do, but not obscure my dark purple transfer lines from the original drawing. 

A detailed look at the head. 

I tried to show the waters of Skilak Lake and Cook Inlet in the head and tail respectively, I wanted to use the types of wave patterns and linework used in old maps. I used Frying Pan Island to be the salmon's eye, but I had to erase Caribou Island directly to the south of it, it just wouldn't have worked with the shape of the mouth. 

Here is the same part of the block after the first inking. I always love this moment because you see things you never noticed until the black ink is rolled on. 

I pulled the first proof and was pretty happy. I need to apply more pressure to get a more consistent color across the block, but it is like -15 and the studio where my press is doesn't have any heat. 

Jinnam doesn't like it and says it needs some kind of back ground.

So I went and found an old block with a simple shape and nice weathered woodgrain in strong relief to use as a backdrop. I tried to print the woodgrain water flow background in the same color as the Kenai's glacial waters, and a deep green for the salmon herself. 

Again, I need to get more pressure on the block for the detail work, but I think it came out ok for a proof. Once I get the studio warmed up I will try for a better printing to post on the official site.