Big Fish on Red Background

Description

A single fish becomes a striking totem in this bold, vertical wall piece by Ontario folk artist Kevin Roach. Suspended from a vintage-style spring scale, this hand-carved and painted fish presents as both trophy and talisman—part playful exaggeration, part nostalgic homage.

The fish’s elongated body is painted in deep emerald and aqua tones, with a dramatically patterned flank of black zebra-like striping and speckled highlights in white, yellow, and red. Its wide, expressive eye and upturned smile give it a personality as big as its size, calling to mind childhood fishing trips, lakeside stories, and the age-old rivalry of “the one that got away.”

Set against a barn-red backdrop and framed in natural pine, the composition echoes the classic signage of bait shops and summer lodges. Yet this is no mass-produced decoration—it is a lovingly crafted folk artifact, steeped in the culture of the Ontario outdoors and reflective of Roach’s signature style: rustic, humorous, and rooted in memory.

This piece would make a charming and conversation-worthy addition to a cottage porch, lakehouse hallway, or any space yearning for a touch of handcrafted nostalgia and northern charm.

Condition: Excellent

Vertical
40.5
Horizontal
16.75

Depth
3