Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1507551
25 Today, most of his works are larger-than-life fish sculpture, but he also creates fish to scale (both in size and detail) to document a fisherman's prize fish or to capture the memories from a special trip. He paints fish from all over the world, including the Japanese Koi, a Florida Keys tarpon, sailfish found in the Western Atlantic, and Montana trout species. Because of their size, which can be up to 8', they are oen purchased and displayed in places with the space to showcase them, such as larger homes, lodges, and restaurants. His work is oen commissioned, and some of his clients order art on an annual basis. e fish are realistic yet whimsical when he incorporates an element of storytelling that might include fish life cycles and habitat. Sometimes, the story is told through subtle paintings within the fish, where you might find an assortment of wildlife, including elk, bear, mountain lion, bobcat, great blue heron, beaver, ralesnake, turtle, and dragonfly. Other times, it is incorporated in a multi-layered assemblage, incorporating antique saddle tack, baseball gloves, and western rigs. He reveals his quiet sense of humor in a saddle-bearing bucking trout and two 7' gunfighters who greeted visitors at the door of his display at the Best of the West Art Show in Great Falls this year, where he received the Portfolio Art Magazine "Most Distinguished Body of Work" award. He usually uses cowhide, which provides a great canvas with its natural textures and sturdiness. His work is astounding in detail and perfection, explaining why one piece oen takes a month to complete. Boen says, "I am a lile outside of the box." is results in him creating his own art process with the one-of-a-kind leatherworks. He starts with a loose concept, which oen evolves as he works – one idea igniting another. He describes Boen holds a 5' leather brown trout while standing next to the 7' "Bandit" made out of vintage leather. One of his many fish artworks, this 7' Outlaw Bucking Rainbow Trout is made from leather and vintage saddle tack.