BOISE -- Josh Udesen of Boise wears his art on his sleeve.

Actually, he wears it on the back of a Patagonia T-shirt that features his fish paintings, but a pun is hard to resist.

The 40-year-old schoolteacher at Riverstone International School in Boise is a fly-fisherman, former fishing guide and artist who turns his fishing passion into art.

It starts with an inspiration from a fishing trip to a nearby stream or distant river and evolves in his garage/studio, and from there it could land anywhere. His work can be seen at tightlinestudio.com.

Q: Why fly-fishing and art? Seems like a pretty narrow and strangely crowded field.

A: Why fly-fishing? It is in my blood. I love to do a lot of things, ski, raft, kayak, mountain bike and chukar hunt. If it is outdoors, I probably do it, but fly-fishing is not something I just do, it is my passion. I fly-fished at first because I did not really have a choice. My dad simply told me I was headed out with him at 4 a.m. to find steelhead, trout, bass, etc.

Eventually it clicked and his passion transferred to me. At 16, I was lucky enough to land my first job at a fly-fishing shop, and I was surrounded by a bunch of great fishing mentors.

Every summer, most of the crew at the shop headed to Alaska to guide. By the time I was 21, I was guiding in Southwest Alaska, where I worked with Bob White. He is one of the most renowned fly-fishing and sporting artists anywhere, and I saw how he combined art and his passion for fly-fishing. It was a great inspiration.

Q: What provided the spark to turn a hobby into a sideline profession?

A: I maintained my art by occasionally drawing and even less frequently painting, but after walking through a summer art show in 2006 I thought to myself -- "I could do this." I found my art supplies from my undergrad art classes, and on a whim, I painted a trout.

That winter I got serious and the following spring, I was accepted into some very reputable summer shows. Bob White also did a little promotion on his web page about my art.

Q: What's your biggest commercial and proudest artistic accomplishments?

A: The opportunity to work with Patagonia was a clear milestone for me. I've always paged through the Patagonia catalogs with a great deal of envy for the people fishing, climbing, skiing and writing about their adventures. I was surprised, and it was an honor to be asked to do six commissions for Patagonia.

Q: Does art change the way you fish? Are you thinking about your next drawing or painting the whole time you're out there?

A: I love to be out there looking for fish, thus fishing really influences my painting and drawing more than art influencing my fishing.

But I think my fishing buddies would say something different. I always carry a camera, and as soon as someone has a fish on I am there to take photos. Every painting I do is inspired by one of my photos, friend's photos or a photo someone sends me, so I definitely drop the rod and run.

Q: Which would take if given a choice between an original of your favorite artist, or landing the fish of your dreams? What exactly would it be?

A: Art is great, but the memory of a fish is even better. I paint people's fish, and the moment they catch a fish, they've produced an amazing memory. Anyone who fishes can instantaneously go back to the moment he hooked and landed a memorable fish.