Mark Twain said, ‘Write what you know.’ Bob White has taken that advice and applied it to the canvas. Fortunately for us, Bob knows wilderness—the rivers, landscapes, wildlife, and the light that falls across it—and the hunters and anglers who find inspiration in it. Each rendering is an honest and artistic take on the places sportsmen most want to be.
Bob White captures the spirit of hunting and fishing in the American outdoors like no other artist working in America today. I think that this is partly because he is also a superb professional fishing guide, so he walks the walk in a way that other illustrators cannot.
The Classic Sporting Art of Bob White creates a beautiful synergy between the art of words and the art of painting. I knew Bob first by reputation, then as a fellow employee and friend. We worked together for a number of seasons in southwestern Alaska, Bob as guide and I as pilot. Bob stands out as one of the best guides I have ever worked with.Enjoy the beautiful artwork you’ll find within this book, and let one of his essays paint another kind of picture in your mind.
I’ve been a fan of Bob White’swork for the better part of two decades, but it was his wonderful illustrations for Tom Rosenbauer’s The Orvis Fly-Fishing Guide that made me understand what sets Bob apart: he’s a real-deal sportsman and angler. That he’s spent much of his life in the field and on the water comes through in the authenticity and emotion of his paintings and drawings.
Bob White’s crystalline artwork and unadorned writing transport you from the couch to the duck blind, the trout stream, or the cabin woodpile in ways that make his memories become yours.
Bob’s paintings are honest and real, they make you want to be there. His paintings contribute greatly to the look and feel of Gray’s Sporting Journal when they are featured in an issue.
Bob White is one of the most gifted sporting talents of our time. His painting and writing reflect a life lived outdoors, and his “been there, done that" perspective draws the viewer into each work as only an experienced sportsman’s could. A book celebrating such an accomplished and earnest artist will be treasured in any library.
For some, fishing and hunting are sacred pursuits. In The Classic Sporting Art of Bob White author/artist Bob White expresses a reverence for his lifelong love of the outdoors through compelling stories and timeless artistic portrayals of memories that touch the soul. In an age of instant gratification, White’s work reflects a deep connection to the day when quiet hours on the water or in the field defined a simple way of life unfettered by modern complexities. Inspired by the traditions of the past, The Classic Sporting Art of Bob White wonderfully preserves the abiding spirit of a bygone era while subtly paying homage to the exceptional work of a true artist.
It’s rare that a skilled artist is also an accomplished writer. Yet Bob is one of those rare individuals who’s been blessed with both talents, and few have been able to balance and blend them together as successfully as Bob. From bird hunting to bass fishing, Alaska salmon to Minnesota muskie, Bob White’s words and artwork accomplish that highest of achievements, making us feel as though we are there with him, in the woods or on the water, sharing the experience.
When we look at Bob White’s art, we see the world through Bob’s eyes, with color and nuance and detail that would otherwise escape us. If only there was a book we could read or a class we could take that would teach us to experience the natural world as Bob sees it, with such clarity and precision and honesty.
Few artists capture the sporting life with the bold bright strokes, the flair, and the accuracy Bob White brings to his paintings. From the richness and fleeting pleasures of days afield and astream, he freezes for us many memorable moments.
I first met Bob White in Argentina in 1984 when he guided for Jorge Trucco out of San Martin de Los Andes and Bob and I spent a superb day on the Malleo River. Bob is simply one of the nicest people you will ever meet: positive, thoughtful, and generous. These traits come through in everything he does, especially with both pen and brush. Bob has an old soul, his rivers run deep and you’ll find that in these pages.
Bob carries on the tradition of quality outdoor artistry from the perspective of those who actually live and work in the field. From the rivers of Alaska to his home woods of Minnesota, Bob is preserving an important part of the American outdoors tradition.
In thinking about the art of Bob White, two words leap to mind: honesty and authenticity. He doesn’t simply paint what he sees; he paints what he lives. And he has a wonderful feel for those quiet, introspective moments that, as we make our way along the sportsman’s road, tend to endure and be remembered.
I first met Bob White thirty years ago in Alaska when he was guiding for Tikchik Narrows Lodge. Since then, we’ve shared musky rivers, goose pits, trout riffles, and campfires while collaborating on a number of book and magazine projects. Bob is one of very few outdoorsmen who is immensely talented in multiple mediums. He creates images with brush and pen that capture the soul and nostalgia of our pursuits, and he writes with a poignant pace that places you alongside him in the boat and blind. I’ve eagerly awaited a peek at this collection.
