Artist brings bass to life
By JOHN D. FERGUSON World Correspondent on Feb 24, 2013, at 1:56 AM Updated on 2/24/13 at 6:11 AM
Al Agnew (right), a painter from Ste. Genevieve, Mo., chats with art enthusiast Junie Copley, of Chesterfield, Va., at Agnew's art booth at the Bassmaster Expo at the Tulsa Convention Center on Saturday. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
Other - Outdoor
TUESDAY
Breeding in arctic tundra and wintering primarily along the coasts, sanderlings migrate through
Oklahoma in spring and fall.
Watch videos and view slideshows: Watch a timelapse video of the launch. See a slideshow from the first day, and much more.
Follow along during the event: See unofficial estimates throughout Saturday
and Sunday.
Tour the lake: Using Google Earth, World outdoors writer Kelly Bostian gives you a tour of Grand Lake.
Anatomy of a bass boat: We have an interactive map detailing the equipment on a bass boat.
There is no catch and release program with Al Agnew's bass fishing work. When Agnew captures it, he keeps the perfect bass. And people admire him for it.
Agnew is an artist and not anti-ecology. He's not just an outdoors artist, but also one who focuses mainly on the bass.
The Ste. Genevieve, Mo., resident needs no lure to get people to appreciate his work. They were hooked just walking by his modest booth at the Bassmaster Expo presented by Dick's Sporting Goods in the Convention Center on Saturday.
Some artists have tools and tricks of the trade to record an image on canvas. Agnew can capture the perfect moment in time by using only his memory. No photograph or copy stand are needed.
Anyone who shops at the Bass Pro Shops or has seen the company's catalog cover has seen Agnew's work. He's done more than 100 covers for the outdoors company.
"Most of what I do is self-taught," said Agnew, who has been an artist since 1983. "My dad and grandfather were influences (on me). They subscribed to all the outdoor magazines."
The seed planted by the 1960s-era outdoors magazines caught Agnew's interest. He would try to duplicate the elaborate cover art.
The way Agnew captures a fish swimming underwater caught the attention of many. Agnew, who has an art teaching degree, did his homework and used snorkeling to see what fish look like underwater.
While Agnew described his other landscape and wildlife paintings, his wife, Mary, took care of the customers who wanted to see the apparel with Agnew's work on it. Prints were also on sale for 20 percent off. A potential customer from Virginia wanted to negotiate the purchase of an original oil work.
All in all, it was a good morning in the Agnew artist booth.
Sunday's Expo Schedule
10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Tulsa Convention Center
Daisy Range: Open to public, National Wild Turkey Foundation, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
SRS Eukanuba Super Dock
10 a.m.: Super Dock Dogs
11 a.m.: Scott Greer and Robb Watts - Ducks and Dogs at Work
11:15 a.m.: Pro Dock Dogs Semifinals
12:15 p.m.: Casting with the Pros - Fishing
12:30 p.m.: Fun Jumps audience participation
1:30 p.m.: Pro Dock Dogs Finals
2:30 p.m.: Casting with the Pros - Fishing
2:45 p.m.: Super V Finals
Other - Outdoor
TUESDAY
Breeding in arctic tundra and wintering primarily along the coasts, sanderlings migrate through
Oklahoma in spring and fall.
