Steelhead Fabrications Fish Gallery

I was approached to create a "noble" pollock and this is what resulted. The fish are heat treated stainless steel. A special hats off to my friend Susan Selby who coordinated the efforts of the designers, difficult artists and the organization which is called the Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers (GAPP).

My new found friend at the Seattle Crowne Plaza helped me out when I delivered this piece for an installation in their updated cafe. The staff and managers are some of the finest people around and the quality of the service can't be beat!

The NOAA Fisheries Research Laboratory in Juneau, Alaska needed to dress up their force protection barriers and I was fortunate enough to be able to help them out. All stainless steel to last in the difficult environment. Mandy managed the project and was a delight to work with, and an accomplished artist on her own. The other side of the door was a groundfish screen with rockfish, crabs and the like.

Have you ever thought what the poor pacific herring must be thinking when they are attacked by two chinook salmon? This is my interpretation of their panic...it's gota ruin your day if you are a baitfish! Constructed of a single large piece of stainless steel, this creation tends to be the focal point of any room.

This installation in Concord California was created for thr main conference room of Entrix, a major science consulting firm and fish scientists. The collaboration with them was fun and educational. Please note that there are multiple species of salmonids with a bunch (some would say school) of Pacific Herring, their primary food. Strong design statement, but with a pleasing result.

This piece was created to resemble the classic fish rack you sometimes see in marinas. The person who asked me to create these fish grew up near the Great Lakes. The individual fish are mounted with ball joints so they all move independant of each other in the wind. All the fish are different, but could be in a school.

A few years ago, a client bought a "fish sign" for her husband's birthday. When two dear friends of theiors decided to get married, Barry aslked me to create this special piece for the newlyweds. The recipient is the manager of a Steelhead Hatchery in Central Washington, so this young steelhead seemed to fit the bill!

Created with heat and Stainless Steel, the Red Drum sculpture will capture the stare of knowing fishermen and chefs from around the world! The Redfish is chased throughout the South and for good reason. They are great fighters and taste even better!

It has been an effort of 3 years, but I am finally comfortable with the result. The finish is simply brushed Stainless Steel as I wanted to show the fish and not confuse the piece with color. He is 18 inches long. The spiny rayed fish are becoming much more in demand...even in Seattle. They are a blast to catch and impressive fighters. The Largemouth Bass is the most popular fish in the United States!

Created for an avid fisherman (who happens to be the President of Wisconsin Lutheran College), this special fish was created using a new technique. The characteristic Lake Trout (actually a member of the Char family, like the Dolly Varden) spots were cut through the solid layer of iron oxides which had been pigmented using a metal dye. Apparently this fish was mounted next to his other trophies!

Created for a retiring Washington State Department of Ecology Director, I was instructed to make them accurate and freestanding. With the use of some Columbia River basalt, this piece became a reality. I even used recycled steel!

This piece was created in response to an avid trout fisherman. His request was for a mature male Brown Trout, which happen to have the sharp nose and big teeth. When they get like this, they have been eating everything in their path, including their young! This piece was modeled after a large Brown caught near Spokane, Washington.

This fish was created on the advice of my friend, Dr. Jack Word who has been involved in the study of the marine environment for MANY years (right, Jack?). The Starry Rockfish is a native of Northern California and is one of the threatened species in that area. Solid copper, tempered to bring out the colors and sealed with industrial powder coating...a heavy piece, but very well received. Created for the Society of Environmental Toxicologists (SETAC) Scholarship Fund, of which I am a member.

Created for Jay and Marilyn Winship, this life-size Golden trout is made of Naval Brass, tempered and highlighted with solvent-based inks and pigments. Notice the characteristic golden trout parr marks that most trout have in the juvinile phase, but lose when they mature. The Golden is an elusive fish naturally found in only a few locations in the US.

OK already! Here is the long awaited trout that you have been asking for. I had a difficult time with the red dye used to make the rainbow, but now have it down. This 20" beauty has many colors that my other work does not as I had to use dyes instead of relying only on heat tempering.

I created this Quillback to help explore working with Naval Brass, a material I had been avoiding like the plague! It was certainly differnt than the other metyals I work with, however nott too bad. This Fish was over 30" long and quite a centerpiece for the sweet couple that purchased it at Salmon Days 2004. The tempering was quite light but beautiful. Let me know if you are interested in having me create one for you.

John was asked to create something special for the SETAC International Meeting in November 2004. This flounder is the result. The special ones for the conference had a 3 eye mutation, which my fellow scientists seemed to really enjoy. 18" long is about the size we used to catch by the Duwamish River in Seattle....

Tempered steel gives this fellow his color.

This ravenous predator was formerly called the Squawfish, but the name has been changed to be more politically sensitive. The Pineminnow is the largest minow in the US and is responsible for huge reductions in juvenile salmon populations. There is even a bounty on the fish around dam spillways...! Created for a longtime researcher of the species. It's ugly, but has kept the lights on in more than one researcher's lab.

I have always wanted to create a Bluefin tuna, as they are impressive creatures. They can attain a size of over 1600 pounds and have been clocked at 34 miles per hour! My fish is much smaller...a mere 4 feet long. I think it would be perfect in a Japanese cafe or over a fish counter.

This piece was modeled after a live King taken from the Copper River region of Alaska. I was told that he was set free after putting up a great fight….but they did say that there is no finer salmon in the world than Copper River! His spirit and rugged beauty have been captured in this heavy gauge wall sculpture with a custom hanger on the back. He will be the centerpiece of your favorite fisherman's room. Visit the storefront to see him and his Salmonid brethren.

A true predator, the Great White Shark is one of the most feared of all creatures, on land or sea! The Steelhead Fabrications version is somewhat tamer than the real thing, but highly desired by most everyone who sees it. At over 4 feet long, this piece will anchor smaller pieces into a full ecosystem. Constructed of tempered mild steel, the Great White Shark will be a sure conversation piece in you home or office.

This large piece was developed (in my head) over many years, ever since watching the surface of the water in Puget Sound boil with herring jumping out of the water when they were being hunted by King Salmon or Orca. This is my version of how it looks . . . . from the herring's perspective!

Created for my Midwest Friends! I like to make them out of copper and stainless steel, tempered to a medium brown color. A real fighter and a fine game fish. Ugly......but fun.

The spots of the Spring-Run Chinook are often bright when they start their journey. The strong spots are all created using only heat and a steady hand.

According to my Friend, Mingta Lin, the scales spell out a wish for Prosperity in Chinese. They have been popular for Asian New Year and housewarming gifts.

This Steelhead is truly a "Stainless Steelhead". Constructed of 304 Low-Carbon Stainless Steel, this accurate rendition of the Steelhead Trout will bring the serious river fisherman to his knees! This piece was created because an acquaintance whined that I was not giving enough press to his beloved Steelhead. Large and totally weatherproof, the Stainless Steelhead will be able to be handed down to your grandchildren. A durable powder coated finish preserves the tempering.

Based on an old Chinese papercut, this piece is available in bright red (for luck) or in stainless steel. A strong, but elegant statement for your home.

Created for some new friends for their house near Lake Sammamish in Issaquah, WA. Brian really wanted a spawning Sockeye, as they pass his house often. This is the only piece that uses special metal dyes to achieve the red and green colors.

Looks like it was time for a snack! I have to keep my salmon and crab sculptures separated...look what happens. It gets too expensive to keep them together.....

The Copper Rockfish is one of the most beautiful fish in the sea. When younger, I used to fish for these beauties in the Straights of Juan de Fuca in Washington State. They grow to be quite large...over 20 inches long!

I posted this photo to show the wonderful copper oxide coloration after the plasma cutting was completed. I remove these oxides and then add some back with heat, as I try to capture the spirit of the Rockfish.

Alaska Pollock Awards