Fly fishing and art go hand-in-hand. The connection goes beyond artists using anglers and their quarry as subject matter. There is an intrinsic, pleasing aesthetic to a rod, a reel, and of course – flies. So, the art of angling isn’t relegated to a place over a mantle or a gallery somewhere. It is art that is used. It is art that is enjoyed.
Karen Talbot is the artist behind the popular Angler’s Pint. The Angler’s Pint is precisely what it sounds like: a pint glass designed for anglers. Beautiful fish illustrations adorn the 21.5-ounce glasses. Since its release, this series of glassware has been bought by fly fishers, nature lovers, and beer connoisseurs alike.
As is the case with any product that begins with a dream on a cocktail napkin, there were plenty of steps taken before Talbot saw the concept of the Angler’s Pint become reality.
“My husband and I were living in California, and we loved to head up into the Eastern Sierra to fish – and it was really wonderful fishing. After one trip when we had been fishing all day, we stopped into Kern River Brewing Company on the way home. We were sitting there having a few pints, and I was doodling on cocktail napkin.
“In the United States there really is no official standard for a poured pint, but it is generally 16 ounces. In England they actually etch or print on a little crown for a standard 20-ounce pour. I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be cool if there was an even taller pour line for anglers?’ And it kind of quickly came to me to use the illustration of a fly rod for a standard, and to think of it as ‘a tall pint for tall tales.’
“We left, and I didn’t even keep that cocktail napkin! But the idea stuck in my mind. I started to do research on what it would take to get good, full color artwork on glassware. It wasn’t readily apparent how to get it done here in the US, so I ended up sitting on it for years.
“Then, Kickstarter came along. The Angler’s Pint was put online right when crowdsourcing becoming popular. The brook trout glass was the first design. That fish, the brook trout, has my heart. Especially since we’re in Maine, it had to be the first fish we featured. For Kickstarter, we had to get $4,000 by the end of the campaign. And by the end of 30 days we had raised over $12,000! It was overwhelming. And, a lot of those initial supporters went over and above. A lot of people not only got that brook trout pint, but also a striper pint plus jigger glasses featuring a Royal Wulff and a Grey Ghost!”
The outpouring of interest that came with the introduction of the Angler’s Pint hasn’t really waned. More pints, over a dozen species, are now a part of the collection. The fly fishing community, and the fly fishing industry, have continued to show their love for the Angler’s Pint.
“We’re really humbled that we have so many customers who are truly supporters. They’ll post their ‘first pour’ pictures on social media, which is really cool to see. And it has been amazing to work with different companies – especially companies like Orvis. They have exceeded my expectations by far – they couldn’t be better to work with from a small business perspective.”
From a timing standpoint, a glass that literally asks to be filled with beer couldn’t have come out at a better time. Talbot appreciates the current booming craft brewing culture, and how it has cultivated a certain marketability for the Angler’s Pint.
“I wish I had a good metric for teasing out that relationship, and I do wonder ‘what if things have been different?’ But it has been great. From marketing standpoint, it has been incredible. Especially up in Maine, we have the opportunity to try something new and different every day. And we do just that for our social media posts! It is exciting to see all the things that our local breweries, and New England breweries in general are doing.”
The success of the Angler’s Pint has been a literal vessel for Karen Talbot’s overall art career. The small fish illustrations that adorn the thousands upon thousands of Angler’s Pints out in the world represent her hard work, her passion for her craft, and much more.
“From a very young age I was constantly drawing and painting. I always admired historical, natural illustration – the realistic depictions of birds, fish, and other animals. I got my master’s in education and started doing freelance projects. I did lots of fish illustration which led to more fish illustrations! From there I was able to work with the Guild of Natural Science. Now I get to teach, paint, and share my love of art and nature full time.
“So the wonderful thing about Angler’s Pint is this: it is a product that has supported the rest of my art, and has opened up so many more opportunities for me personally.”
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You can check out more of Karen’s story at her website, where you can purchase your own Angler’s Pint.
She also has another website devoted exclusively to the Angler’s Pint.
Karen recommends checking out Orvis’ website if you want a great deal and quick shipping on one of the four trout species or the striped bass Angler’s Pints.