Gary Stubbs & Ray Brown

Vermont artists Gary Stubbs and Ray Brown have a passion for fish.  But theirs extends beyond simply catching them.  They use their talents to artistically capture fish… to render one of nature’s most pleasing forms in wood and evoke, rather than merely imitate, its colors through the traditional process of gilding and glazing.

A potter, shipwright, and cabinetmaker with a bent for “close tolerance” work, Stubbs begins with basswood to carve the body of the fish.  The preferred wood for carving, basswood has an even, consistent grain.  It holds a crisp edge, revealing fine detail, and it takes gilding well.  For the fins, he uses strong mahogany.  Working on a shaving horse, a device little changed from ancient times, Stubbs begins with a draw knife and spoke shave.  He then uses the implements of sculpture - chisels, knives, and gouges - in his life-size close rendering of virtually any species of fish.

The coloring done by Brown, a long-time painter and print maker, is just as exacting.  The multi-step process begins with a coating of gesso as a primer, overlaid with a clay bole and a clear size as a foundation for adhering the leaf.  After the leaf has dried, it is burnished and then sealed with coats of damar varnish.  Brown then applies oil glazes, hand rubbing and polishing the surface to produce a timeless patina that is unique on every fish. 

In addition to the available works shown here, Stubbs and Brown are able to carve and gild any type of fish to the customer’s specifications.

Each carved fish is designed to be mounted on a wall.

Cape Cod Life Magazine - Arts Edition Article
Spring/Summer 2006 Issue

All images on this site copyright to the artist © 2007 The Brigham Galleries
This site is maintained by Robert Foster.