Joel Lake, a 1997 LSSU alum who earned his degree in Secondary Education with a major in English Language Literature and a minor in Biology, is diving into the world of artistry full time, with a unique focus on fish replicas, also referred to as fish replica taxidermy. An accomplished artist, Lake has created his artwork in many mediums over the years from pen and ink stippling to pastels, acrylic painting, logo design, and woodworking, but in recent years has turned his focus to fish replicas.
“Dr. Tom Allen, Dr. Greg Zimmerman, and Dr. Barbara Evans were all very influential in my career path,” said Lake, when asked about his time as a student at Lake State. “Their knowledge of vertebrate anatomy, biology, and ecology all combined to create an interest that ultimately led me to teaching science and then on to specializing in fish replicas.”
Lake’s journey from the classroom to the studio is a testimony of his desire to continue creating art while being gainfully employed as a high school teacher. His pursuit of a dream to make art a full time job became a reality when he recently retired from his teaching career at Sault Area High School in June 2023. Popular among students, ‘Mr. Lake’ dedicated over two decades to teaching high school biology – with a stint of middle school English and STEM for a few of those years – as he left a legacy teaching a subject that is near to his heart. While he enjoyed his time as an educator, he had always intended to continue as a full-time artist transforming his lifelong passion into a fulfilling second career.
“I’ve enjoyed my 25 years of teaching science in the Sault Public Schools and have been fortunate to meet and teach thousands of students throughout those years,” commented Lake. “However, while teaching, art was just a hobby for me. I used it as an outlet to relax during my time away from work. Now, with my retirement from teaching, I have the opportunity to move forward into my “next career” and combine my love of art with fishing.”
An avid outdoorsman, Lake grew up hunting and fishing with his dad, Ken Lake, who is also a retired educator. Lake’s artistic works have always had a common thread of nature woven throughout, having grown up in the Eastern Upper Peninsula surrounded by the natural beauty of the Great Lakes region. His works include landscapes, animals, pet portraits, and fish illustrations. During the summer of 2018 he found an outlet in the world of fish replicas, and enrolled in an intensive artistic seminar in Hinsdale, New Hampshire to study under world-renowned taxidermist, Rick Krane, to develop his skills in creating life-like replicas of a prized catch. This craft combines a precision and meticulous attention to detail that Lake cultivated through his years of drawing and painting. His eye for anatomy and a genuine appreciation for the beauty of fish made this transition a natural fit.
Creating life-like fish replicas involves careful observation of the fish’s anatomical structure, coloration, season of the catch, and the unique details that make each species distinct. He works from photos of a client’s catch, as well as measurements taken at the time of the catch. On a fish blank, molded and cast from an actual fish that matches these exact measurements, and through hours of intricate work, Lake captures the essence of the fish, turning them into pieces of art that are both strikingly realistic and aesthetically pleasing. Artistic mediums used include epoxy putties, air-brushing, hand-painting, scale-tipping with metallic powders, among numerous others depending on the species.
“It’s quite a process that many people are unfamiliar with,” said Lake. “To create a life-like ‘fish mount’ from just a photo of a trophy catch takes a lot of time and effort with specialty tools and mediums to recreate every intricate detail from the exact fish in the photo. Every fish is different, even among the same species, depending on when and where they were caught. Each fish has unique markings that make it different from every other fish. I enjoy the challenge to make that exact fish with each of its unique details.”
Lake’s choice to specialize in fish replicas reflects his deep-rooted connection to the scenic beauty of Lake Superior, and the many inland lakes and streams where he’s fished over the years. The northern shores have always held a special place in his heart, as he has spent a great deal of time at his family’s cabin at Salt Point on Lake Superior. His art serves as a medium through which he can honor and preserve the memories of a fishing expedition and prized catch that will last a lifetime.
More of Joel Lake’s work can be seen at his Facebook page Lake Fish Replicas and he can be contacted at [email protected].
LSSU Alumni Insurance Program
Did you know that the LSSU Alumni Association sponsors an Alumni Insurance Program as a service to our graduates? The program offers a variety of attractively priced insurance products, most of which are available to alumni, students, faculty and staff, as well as their spouses, domestic partners, parents, children, and siblings.
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For more information visit Meyer and Associates or contact our Meyer and Associates program administrator at 1(800) 635-7801.