Welcome back to Artist Spotlight, a Flylords original series where we dive into the artists that bring life to fly fishing off the water. In this installment, we sit down with South Florida native, David Danforth. We first caught up with David back in 2018 and have continued to watch him grow into a mainstay in the fly fishing scene. His bold expression of color and sharp lines brings an energetic and modern take to the pursuit we all love. We sat down to talk about his journey into art, his roots in fly fishing, and much more. Follow along in the full interview below.
Flylords: When did you start fly fishing?
Danforth: “I started fly fishing maybe 12 or 13 years ago. It started because I used to walk the beaches around Tampa a lot, looking for big snook cruising. I started fishing for them with spinning rods but quickly realized they were keying in on small white baits. I thought to myself, that would be an easy fly to learn to tie. So I went and bought my first fly rod and tied my first flies. I’m self-taught, so I’d watch YouTube videos and practice casting until I landed my first snook on fly. I think watching a big snook in clear water eat a fly that I tied hooked me like it does to a lot of people.”
Flylords: What is your favorite aspect of fly fishing?
Danforth: “My favorite aspect of fly fishing is having to adapt to every possible situation. What works in the jungle may not work on the beach. What works on the beach doesn’t work offshore. Figuring out how to match the hatch and how to retrieve your fly to get that species in that location to bite is the ultimate test of an angler.”
Flylords: Can you tell us a little bit about your journey into art?
Danforth: “So I’ve always been artistic. I can remember getting in trouble when I was young, taking other kids’ lunch money to draw tattoos on them. But then life happened, and I had to focus on providing for myself. Once I had a stable corporate job, I started experimenting with highlighter art fish sketches. I started selling them here and there on Instagram for $50. I started honing my skills and really started making money by selling my artwork. I took the risk and decided to jump full into my artwork.”
Flylords: How did you get your nickname, the King of Color?
Danforth: “I was actually given that nickname in the jungles of Costa Rica, and it stuck. But I accept that nickname with a humble smirk. Not many people are brave enough to try bold colors like me. It’s tough to incorporate neon colors into reality to make a compelling art piece, but it’s what I’ve built my career around.”
Flylords: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Danforth: “My process for inspiration is based on submersing myself in the places and fisheries I’m creating. I have to explain to the lodges and people I work with that I can’t just show up somewhere acting like it’s another job. I have to feel the energy, feel the culture, and feel the environment. Then I can pluck bits from it all and begin to create art that tells a story. With some of these murals, there is so much space that I can incorporate elements from the environment and the community to tell the story of the fishery.
I even find inspiration from the colors around me, drawing from the environment and everything I see. I tie this all together to show people who have never been there a piece of what it looks like. That way, if they were to purchase a piece of my artwork, they’d feel what the place and experience were like.”
Flylords: Most recently, we’ve seen you start to include neon signs in your artwork. Where did this idea come from, and can you tell us about the process?
Danforth: “The idea for neon signs came from my drive to continually create new things. As an artist, I never want to become stale, creating the same thing over and over again. So, I thought, what else would be awesome for these spaces people cherish? Every time I see someone’s fly tying area, it’s riddled with photos and memories from time on the water, the same goes for bars at a lodge, or even fly shops.
I wanted to create something visually compelling to bring people together and share memories. Colored light was the next progression to elevate my art and add another level of life to the pieces. When I see someone look at a neon sign, their eyes visually light up, and it draws them in. It’s just a whole other level of creating something visually unique to share with those people.”
Flylords: Are there any similarities you draw between fly fishing and your art?
Danforth: “To me, the biggest similarity between fly fishing and my art is that they both have risk. Trying a new fly, a new brush, a new fishing technique, or a new way of spreading paint on a canvas all come with a bit of risk.
They both take imagination, visualization, and planning. They also both take a lot of failure. It may take 10 years to catch a permit, and when you finally get one, it’s worth it because you put your heart and soul into it. I’ve failed many times as an artist, starting from scratch or scrapping a painting because I wasn’t happy with how a new method was going. But, when it all comes together, the heart and creativity that go into my art and my fishing make it worth it.”
Flylords: Recently, you led a crew on a pretty sweet expedition, creating King of Color, an F3T film. Can you tell us a little more about the project?
David: “King of Color is the highlight of my art career so far, and it wasn’t about the art or the fish. I wanted to do something that would touch people’s souls, so it was challenging to pick the right people for this project. I needed to make sure the team would work well together and would provoke creativity out of each other.
First on the team were Mia and Morgan from Belize, two incredible women anglers who are like family to me. Their knowledge of the Caribbean and ability to help me navigate these new areas and make meaningful connections were pivotal in the journey. Then we settled on locations—Xflats in Mexico with Jesse, 4 Corners in Costa Rica with Chuck, and Blue Horizon in Belize with Damien.
The goal of the project was to visit each fishery, immerse myself in their culture, create compelling art pieces in each place, and capture it all on film. Going back to artist terms, I’d say King of Color is my Mangum Opus—the most important project in my career.”
Flylords: At Flylords, we’ve been following along with your work since 2018. Since then, we’ve seen your art continue to grow and become a mainstay in the scene. How does it feel to continue to grow as an established artist, and what’s next for you?
Danforth: “It makes me proud that all my hard work has been seen, recognized, and I’ve gained loyalty from other anglers. There are people who have started out watching me progress as an angler and an artist, and they have their own journey, too. Maybe they’v ejust started out fly fishing and over the past five or ten years they’ve gotten better, and they’ve done bad ass stuff. So in a way, I’m growing with the fly fishing industry.”
Flylords: How can folks get in touch with you about purchasing art and commissioning pieces?
Danforth: “I would steer folks to my Instagram, @reellocal, because that is my visual gallery. You can see years of work and select items you like. Direct email is also great for bigger projects. We can set up a time to discuss your space, custom pieces, or whatever it is—I’m up for the challenge. If you can think it, I can make it.”
Flylords: Is there anything we didn’t talk about that you would like to mention?
Danforth: “I just want to give love to the lodges and people who believed in me and helped make King of Color happen. The next level of evolution and confidence I gained from completing a multi-country film and art project was because of the people who helped me along the way. Jesse at XFlats in Mexico, Damien at Blue Horizon in Belize, Chuck at 4 Corners in Costa Rica, and Mia and Morgan. I’m really proud of how everyone came together to make this project a reality.”
