It is worth stopping and looking at the work of James Sampsel, a flyfishing guide and artist based on the Wild and Scenic Rogue River on Oregon’s south coast. Dynamic or subtle, Sampsel’s paintings reward the viewer’s investment of time. Many are scenes anglers will find familiar, if not in the specific details of western coastal rivers, then at least in the spirit or quality of light we all know from days on the water, wherever that might be.

Sampsel and his wife, Kait, run Humble Heron Fly Fishing & Fine Art and are raising their young family along the water. Hilarious and thoughtful, Sampsel admitted to being a bit tired when we spoke in the spring. The family had a three-week-old baby at home and no one was getting much sleep. But they wouldn’t have it any other way.

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