Art of Angling Journal
Volume 2, Issue 3
(Spring 2004)
The Fine Art of Exaggeration:
The Leather Sculptures of Lance Marshall Boen
by Michael Martinek, Jr.
pp 148-163
Traditionally, renderings of fish are found in wood, stone, ceramic or bronze; the image of a fish created in leather is both unusual and unique. Lance Marshall Boen has forged a new and original frontier with this work in this medium.
The story begins in 1972, Boen was born and raised in Claremont and Mt. Baldy, California. A small creek ran near the family’s property in Mt. Baldy, where a natural spring filled a year-round pond in the front year. Some of Boen’s fondest memories are of exploring the creek bed. When he did not have his Red Ryder BB gun in hand, he equipped himself with his fly rod and a small handful of flies that he tied. The creek supported a population of small wild trout and Boen transported fish back to his pond where he enjoyed watching them grow while studying their beauty and behavior. Loving nature and the outdoors, he spent many hours observing and angling for these beautiful natives. At this very young age, he became enamored with fly fishing. He also began to draw landscapes, wild animals and fish, which allowed him to grow even closer to his environment.
While attending Upland High School in the foothills east of Los Angeles, Boen became more interested in art and chose to pursue it as his life’s vocation. He earned college credit in this advanced placement class by submitting a large body of fish-related drawings, paintings and ceramic works.
Upon graduating from high school, Boen entered the University of Laverne, where he majored in fine arts with a focus in painting. In this setting his talents flourished. He explored the fundamentals of color, tone, light, perspective and composition, creating a prolific body of work in watercolors, oils and acrylics. Boen’s accomplishments in art gained the respect of his professors. This lead to a one-year position as the art assistant for the department. Shortly after his assistantship at the University of Laverne, Boen was admitted to the Master of Fine Arts program at Claremont Graduate University, in Claremont, California.
During his tenure as a graduate student, Boen’s 2-dimensional work in paintings and drawing began to evolve into mixed-media sculpture projects. Each sculpture incorporated numerous materials and applications to create his vision. One material that continued to appear in Boen’s work was leather. Whether it was a found object that he incorporated or a designed element he created himself, Boen experimented with leather in his sculptures as he explored the medium and its unlimited possibilities. He states, “It is hard to find a person that is not drawn to the surface, color, and feel of quality leather work.”
Boen remained committed to sculpture and paintings that were not directly related to fish or fishing. With each new medium or process he explored, he developed an arsenal of technical applications and creative ideas that he would later incorporate into his leather fish sculptures.
Upon completion of graduate school and earning his master’s degree, Boen moved to Los Angeles to further pursue his art career. Working out of a studio in Culver City, he was selected to participate in many solo and group exhibitions throughout Southern California’s numerous galleries, universities, and museums.
This was a very exciting and creative time for Boen, but he knew that the big city was not the perfect fit for his long-term plans. During this time Boen had a long, dry spell from nature and fly-fishing but he went back to what he loved best, fish. With what he calls a fun, side project, Boen took blank leather that was left over from another mixed-media project and created his first all-leather fish sculpture. His first work was a 12-inch trout. Admittedly primitive, it was a seminal work.
Many fine artists spend a lifetime pursuing careers in which they can create the work they love, while making a living at it. Art is a tough business. Many fail and must follow other paths. Lance Boen had a strong vision of himself as an artists working with an unusual medium through which he could express himself uniquely. He persevered and steadfastly followed his dream.
More sculptures followed his first attempt. Every challenge provided invaluable experiences and improved his understanding of the medium. Boen became passionate about these new creations that reestablished his connection to nature and fly-fishing while fulfilling his creative focus to the development of fish sculptures.
The selection of materials and tools is critical to the final product. Boen had much to learn about the myriad tools available in the trade. He visited a Southern California shop that made leather police gear, including holsters, belts, wallets, and pouches. This encounter opened his eyes to a wide variety of options for creating art in his chosen medium. He received advice on the types of equipment and hides required to perfect his practice.
In 1998 Boen established a new studio in Montclair, California. He honed his techniques, and purchased industrial sewing machines, hydraulic presses and other tools to create the works he envisioned. Slowly, people became aware of his talent for sculpting in an unusual medium. Art exhibitions, fly-fishing shows, gallery displays, and word of mouth led to requests for commissioned works.
Many of Boen’s original patrons were from Central and Northern California. After numerous scenic trips, he fell in love with and moved to Carmel, California in the summer of 2002. Boen found the perfect house and property in Carmel Valley. A 1950s-style post-adobe with an abundance of character and open space on which to build his dream studio. Boen designed and recently completed construction of his studio and gallery. The design of Boen’s studio, with its vaulted ceiling supported by massive wood beams creates a warm and open environment that welcomes visitors and patrons. The combination of skylights and large windows provides the perfect lighting conditions to create his work. Gazing from his studio, Boen is inspired by the panoramic view of both valley and mountains.
His home and studio are a short walk from the Carmel River where he wets his fly line during the winter season. Carmel is a lovely and picturesque place where people from around the world come to visit and seek out new art for the collections. Boen’s business has flourished in this location. He has found his home.
Boen’s passion for trout and salmon continues but denizens of the deep have become new subjects of his sculpture. He creates many fish sculptures that measure between three and eight feet. They depict both fresh and saltwater species. Recent works include an 8-foot marlin, a 6-tarpon, and many 3-to 6 foot salmon and steelhead. Boen is currently at work on a 10-foot-long steelhead outfitted with a western saddle, saddlebags and reins.
Boen expresses that the fish are not meant to be exact reproductions. Instead they are artistic renditions that subtly exaggerate the beauty and identifying characteristics of the particular species. The artist sometimes sculpts actual-size copies of fish, but he prefers to create oversized versions. This allows him to emphasize the artistic qualities that thrill the angler rather than adhering to textbook perfection. Boen demonstrates a sophisticated understanding and use of color. He creates a balance between leaving the natural rich earth tones of the leather and by adding his own color to capture the essence of the fish as it appears in the wild. The results are fresh, vibrant and, in a word, stunning.
Boen’s creations begins with the selection of cowhides. He carefully scrutinizes each hid not only for its perfection but also for unusual wrinkle marks, scars and flaws that may enhance the distinctive character of each of his works. He often incorporates skins from other animals, such as snakes, to create extraordinary texture and contrast.
Boen’s labor-intensive and physically demanding sculptures evolve in three pieces. Sometimes fins are added separately. The front, back and head patterns are cut while flat. The artist then proceeds with hand-tooled details to create relief on the fish’s features. Next the front and back edges are glued. Boen utilizes a sewing machine that has the capability of stitching up to one-half-inch-thick leather. When the contour correctly fits his design, he fills the fish to further develop its body’s fluid lines. The head, which is a sculpture in itself, is added along with fins and then allowed to dry. After drying, the fish is a perfectly stretched canvas waiting for him to apply his painting skills. Boen says that this is his favorite part of the process. With leather dyes he mixes himself, he applies all color by hand with brushes, cloth and stippling tools. Boen’s sculptures are 3-dimensional paintings in which the viewer can get lost in the subtle and dramatically detailed surfaces.
Boen usually works on four or five fish in various stages of development at time. The process is time-consuming, which makes the work very exclusive. Larger commissions may take up to a month to complete. Boen is willing to attempt fish of any size of species, however obscure. Prices vary from application to application but what you get is a one-of-a-kind original. A trout from 12 to 20 inches may cost up to $500. Larger commissions involving fish from three to eight feet in length, range from approximately $1,000 to $10,000, depending on what is involved in the creation of his vision.
Boen does most of his work by commission. He reports that 75 percent of his patrons are fishermen. But many collectors are not anglers. They purchase his sculpture for their visual pleasure. Most of his works are in private collections. Other unique areas that display his work are lodges, yachts, and fine restaurants throughout the world.
At age 31, Boen exudes a relaxed, assured and confident demeanor that is well beyond his years. His work is creative and fulfilling. When not in the studio, he and his wife Jennifer, enjoy an active outdoor life. They mountain bike, hike and spend time with their 15-month-old son, Marshall. Boen is always committed to fish conservation on the local river, where he works with others to relocate steelhead that become landlocked during the summer months. He is also involved with various conservation groups where he contributes his creative talents.
For spiritual renewal Boen fly-fishes for steelhead and is active in his local church. This young man has much to offer both the sporting and traditional art worlds for years to come.
Be advised that after several years of working on commissions, the demand for Boen’s art work is high. Because he is only able to create a limited amount of work each year, those interested in acquiring one of these unique sculptures should contact Boen to secure a spot on his calendar as soon as possible.