Seven quickfire questions with...Dennis Friel

When you invest in a pair of Strike’s saltwater performance shoes, you’re buying into more than just footwear for big-game fishing. You’re taking ownership of a spectrum of intricate and creative details that have been meticulously designed, refined, tweaked, and pored over. 
That goes for our packaging, too. 

Right at the beginning of the Strike story, we teamed up with Dennis Friel, the legendary saltwater artist based in Coral Springs, Florida, and creative behind the IGFA logo, and set out to create a shoebox for our performance footwear that was unlike any other. The result? A bold celebration of saltwater angling, crafted with responsibly sourced materials and soy-based inks to meet our shared vision of a sport with more environmentally-focused solutions. 
Getting to know the man behind the box (and your new piece of art) through the seven quickfire questions we posed to the world-famous inksmith…

WHAT ARE YOUR EARLIEST MEMORIES OF SALTWATER FISHING AND HOW DO THESE EXPERIENCES MANIFEST IN YOUR ART?

The two have always gone hand-in-hand. Growing up in South Florida, angling is part of our culture, so I started fishing as a toddler. As a kid, if I wasn’t fishing, you’d always find me drawing. They have both always been a big part of my life. 

WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE FAVOURITE SPECIES TO PUT INTO YOUR ART AND WHY? 

If I had to choose one, it would be the sailfish – you can always create something unique with the random flow of the dorsal sail. 

AS WELL AS STRIKE SHOEBOXES, WHAT OTHER NON-TRADITIONAL PLACES, SPACES, AND CANVASES HAVE YOU ADDED YOUR ART TO? 

From Florida bridges to album covers, I’ve had my fair share! But the project closest to my heart is the series of hand-painted guitars I’ve created for Hall of Fame football coach Jimmy Johnson’s billfish tournaments. I came up with the idea of painting a sailfish onto a guitar to raise money for charity at the event. In 2017, the first guitar auctioned for $7,000. Fast forward to last year’s tournament, and two of my guitars reached a total of $70,000. I take great pride in knowing we created a program that gives back to our community.

WHAT’S THE ONE RECENT FISH YOU’RE MOST PROUD OF LANDING?

Probably the 45lb tarpon I landed using 8lb test on a bass rod – I’m still twirling over that one.

TALK US THROUGH THE STRIKE BOX. WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR DESIGN?

I’m reminded that, from the beginning, the Strike team and I shared a clear ethos and vision for the direction of this design. I’m proud of the powerful packaging we created – and that we stayed environmentally conscious throughout the process. 

WHAT’S THE MOST RECENT SALTWATER BUCKET LIST TRIP YOU’VE BEEN ON?

I’ve been tied to the studio with a heavy workload lately, so it’s been a while since my last major trip – Los Sueños, Costa Rica. The first day we went out we didn’t get a bite, but the rest of the week turned out to be unbelievable – our arms were hurting from catching so many fish. I’ve got a trip to the Amazon coming up to flyfish for monster peacock bass with world-class outfitters, Untamed Angling. I’m really looking forward to that one

WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO STRIKE SHOE?

The Bigeye boot is my favourite – it’s the most comfortable fishing boot I’ve ever worn. When you’re fishing offshore for wahoo, mahi-mahi, tuna, and even billfish, you need a boot that can handle the deck and keep your feet comfortable. They look great too!