The Week in Fish Pictures" ~Year 3~ Week 22
A big Warm Welcome from Hinsdale New Hampshire!!! As spring is approaching and March is nearly upon us I want to mention this is the best time to do a bit of marketing before the spring fishing season is here. Other then just a consideration on pricing we should always take a look at what worked from year to year and try at least one new thing from a marketing stand point.
Distinguishing your unique skills and talent is the difference in a customer often time choosing you over another taxidermist in your area? If we all had the same skills and talents then it would always come down to price and there will be and always have been price shoppers however for a person looking to create new business or separate themselves from competition you must work each year on new strategies to do so. There will always be room from low pricing business folks in the industry however some customers want the other three aspects of good business person
1.Turnaround time, 2. Good quality and 3. Consistency. Out of the over all four different aspects of good business service I personally believe the last 3 are more important then just price. If you could pay 350.00 dollar for a bass but it takes 1.5 years to get it back and some times the quality is not consistence that may be ok for some however if you could get the same Bass for 400.00 Dollars and get it back in 6 months with consistent quality your customer may choice this as the better deal. So just remember you always have 3 other tools at your business ready to address new business.
When your new and starting out the more you can learn the better just remember a simple rule if we all knew the same techniques, the same painting, the same every thing then the only things we would have to earn a customer would be the 4 aspects of business. Being the best at fish or birds or what ever doesn’t make you qualified to run or do business. So apply your self to make it in business as well as the time you spend learning your craft. Over the years I have seen many World and National champions who were great taxidermist juts go out of business because all the time they spent was chasing blue ribbons not green ones. So win at your business so you can stay in it if this is what you do for a living. Get caught up in consistency, time management, fair but profitable pricing, and lastly high end quality. It is not the best fish that wins in business it is the one the customers decides fits their needs. 50 hours or some ridiculous number of hours may make the perfect fish but will put you out of business faster then you may think. If you love the industry of taxidermy then work at your business skills too then you will win the day to have another!
I was reading several posts this morning before writing the Week in fish pictures intro and I find the longer I’m in this industry the same stuff is always talked about and in some cases argued. There will be anger or hostility toward one another on this string because we share in inspiration. The competitiveness or the ego comes out some times to much when we expose too much. As long as I moderate this for Ken and for you we will continue to share in information and in inspiration. I guess that is the evolution of an industry that has some many new folks getting in so very often. From the common question of paint schedules to sharing all the information that you can in one place to let every one have all the same information.
There is nothing new about any of these ideas what is always new and so terribly important is not always the distinction of information so that we all have the same information but to teach folks to be inspired. As a professional artist and full time taxidermist I want to learn each and every day but I want o learn how to fins in me a better way to approach some time and often times this means I need more inspiration not technique. I always look at paint schedules as a map to get you from one point to the next. I totally understand why I get asked for them every day. I try to not just inform the good folks who ask from them if I set my paints out in order and tell you at what point to apply the paint you still will to get the same realists. This is not necessary due to talent or lack there of it is due to interpretation and years of inspiration.
I often relate "art" to a beautiful woman. If you want to approach the beauty of a woman it is often times in a look or an angle you see her in or maybe the light. Today if you see it all right away or expose it all then there is no imagination to stimulate the mind and creativity of passion. If you broke down ever step and technique in making love to a beautiful woman so that every one would have the same knowledge and information you would not be special any longer or may lose some one to just any one if the field to totally level. No my friends let an individual who has passion and can be inspired. Techniques are great but so is inspiration! If you knew how a magic trick was done there would be no magic to it any longer would there? If you are still inspired by the magic you will pursue and honor the history of those who inspired you to want to learn to do the magic. I deeply respect all those who taught me and no pettiness or professional insecurities would ever let me walk away to the dark side of my creativity to glorify my own ego or self worth. You wouldn’t just tell every one how you do what with whom in an intimate way nor would you share intimate details of your beautiful person in your life. The picture you care or display is the one that inspires you or if a personal was to see your gifts, talent or beauty they may be inspired too. So remember no one is the best we all on a given day are or could be the best if you work hard enough at it. If you want to stay here in the industry for a long time you must work hard and learn but learn the business too. Stay inspired and be inspired! Peruse the trade as if were a beautiful woman whom your eye can not stray! Study and learn what it takes to crate not just go through the motions to achieve a technique that you may not full understand. Don’t get so caught up in the competitiveness of the information sharing, the techniques will come and the last time I checked the “Forum “ already provides any and all information as it is? If you ask you get an answer… right? Don’t let jealously in your heart there is no room for it there with your passion and inspiration! So many good and generous folks share here each and ever week on the forums so enjoy this privilege it is free and at your finger tips. Take time and learn to love it! Ok enough of that! On to fish my fellow Fishheads!!
So many Talented and gifted fish artists come here each and every week and share with us their passion and inspiration we all can use to motivate us to the next level of satisfaction and success!
Let’s start of the week recognizing those who shared their wonderful work with all of us!
Oliver F!!!! Such art and beauty you shared this past week!!! Simply breathtaking!
Capt. Bryan!! Bryan always beautiful work from your FLA location! Very well done especially the Volitan Lionfish!
Rami Kallio!!!! Way cool shark head my friend! Love it!!!
Don Patton!! Super Cut bow Don!!! Nice colors!!!
Clete!!! Awesome Pike!!! That is an outstanding fish man!!!!
Doug Petrousek!!! Your work inspires me Doug! I love to see you post and I hope folks share in the same enthusiasm I do in your work I know they do!!!
Wishbone!! The displays are sweeet! Man way to go!!!
Rich Benedict!!! Rich this is an outrageously beautiful brown! God has blessed you with Talent for sure! Thanks Rich!
HLH!!! Welcome herb!!! Great work on this Smallie!!!!
Josh Knuth!!! Man!!!! Super duper!!!! I love the walleye it is a tight job of beautiful soft techniques! Way to go!!!
Travis Jones!!!!!! My Brother you cohune to set pace that will care you to greatness!! I Love the Bass!!!
Akairman!!!! Cool display of a fish mold in progress this is the way taxidermy will one day I go I believe so this is inspiring too!!!
Twiggy 2151!! A wonderful Smallie and a beautiful back drop for this picture! Very natural!!!
Craig R!!! Killer Steele head my friend!! Well done!
Wildlife! A very nice cutthroat!!! Love the deep colors!
Uncle Dave!!! You have been told countless time to not hang live fish on you wall! LOL! Shaaaaaapppppooooieee!!!! No words could describe this beautiful display of nature so I won’t try! Ok How about very natural!!!!! VERY Natural!!!
Jim F!!! Wicked Brown! I love to shape and the colorations this is fish to be inspired by!!
Doug A!!! Killer Red!!! Love the eye work too!
Jemmick!! Jonathan way to go on the brown! This is truly one of your best works of fish art!
Todd B!!! Way to go on the Spots! Love the spotted Bas family they are vibrant and wonderful to study! You look like you did well!!
All from SC!!! Great job on the Crappie! I have been watching your progress now for some time and I must say your work is getting well rounded and very strong!
Donnie Durbin!!! Donnie cool Hybrid!!! Love the colors!!! Carry on!!!
I want to thank all of the great contributors who really show not only great talent and work but rather give such inspiration to all of us!
A great week Fishheads!!!!!
From beginner's to the best in the world we all join in every week in a critique free and hassle free string with nothing more then great artist and inspiring fish taxidermist and carves get together to share with one another their praise and inspiration of good will and friendship to one another.
This week I want to share a few pictures of a Brown I recently completed a few weeks ago for a gentleman in AZ who caught this monster in a mountain lake. Having great photo’s really helped in this Brown as it had a few unique directions that made the brown identifiable for the customer. When ever possible ask your customer for photo’s of their fish so that you may recreate every little detail for their memory of their experience to be fulfilled! We I spoke of business I spent about 28 working hours on this fish in total. The pricing and my hourly rate allows me to do this fish and make money. Is it a blue ribbon fish probably not at a World level but at the level of good quality and a very happy customer then I get to win at the business level? I will share a part of the email this first time customer and now repeat customer sent to me one getting his trophy package. “Rick - I just met the new lady in my life - it is even better than I thought it would be! Thank you very much for the hat as well I will wear it! One other thing that is important to me that you know and that is this I - sought you out because of your work and you are obviously an expert but you are an expert in one thing many skilled people are not - making people feel important and valuable - not just a "customer." You are a good man dealing with you and Kathie was one of the better experiences I have ever encountered with a business before. I know understand why you always sign off with "your friend". Great experience! “
I didn’t share this for display ego or to boast I did this to share some inspiration in hope that you don’t get caught up in the day to day grind of getting technically better. You are already great!!!! Each an every day you’ll become more great!!!!! Love what you do and do what you as it is said and you’ll never work a day in your life! I hope you all get letters like this one or are able to have the experience of a happy customer. I’m personally inspired By God as the creator of all beautiful things and by life as I get to experience it as I see it. That is truly inspiration to me to be and do better!
So here goes!
I hope you enjoy the week!
So with out further ado let's get week #22 under way.
So here we go and here is to a great week in fish pictures!!!! #22 Enjoy!
My Best!
Your Friend
Rick Krane
Anglers Artistry
312 Chesterfield Road
Hinsdale, New Hampshire 03451
Office: 603-336-7296
Web:
www.anglersartistry.comHere is a Big Beautiful Brown from AZ!
Here is a closer shot of the head. The eyes!
Again I used the beautiful Still life eyes of my friend Jeff Lumsden. These eyes are tremendous and allow the eye to show a very “Fishy” look for sure!
I have to mention That in the past 3 years I have only missed the posting 4 times and it seems that each time I do this I miss out when Jeff posts pictures. I want to send out a very special Shappppppoooooopppie to my good friend Jeff Lumsden! Jeff is not only one of the very best Fishheads to ever walk the earth but always a mentor to me and an inspiration to see with in my self what can be done with love and passion! One day when they take a core sample of the earth and they analyze the beauty of what was they will sure find Jeff Lumsden passion and inspiration for all he has done in there to inspire folks of the future! Way to go Jeff! Check out the eyes you can custom paint from Jeff you’ll love them!
My Best!
Rick Krane
Anglers Artistry
312 Chesterfield Road
Hinsdale, New Hampshire 03451
Office: 603-336-7296
Web:
www.anglersartistry.com 
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