A Striped Bass Reproduction Paint Schedule Essay by Rick Krane

[Rick Krane]

Mr. Fred Pride of Lancaster PA spent some time with me for a few weeks learning fish work. Fred mounted a few fish including two 29 “Steelhead he caught in NY as well as a Repro Steelhead from Dave Campbell.

The fish Fred wanted to share with you was his Striped Bass from New Wave. Fred learned how to prepare and reproduction fish and hand paint eyes as well as paint his fish. So I would to share with you Fred’s experience painting a Striped Bass. I hope you enjoy the paint work of Fred Pride and this Striped Bass paint Schedule.

My Best!

Rick Krane
Anglers Artistry

[Rick Krane]

First Fred prepares the fish Cast for painting.
Next Fred darkens the fish for scale enhancement called antiquing.
Once Fred buffs off the dark color he is ready for painting.

[Rick Krane]

Fred will paint white in the belly area and around the bottom of the fish.
Fred paints a bit of Payne’s Gray over the top and mid section to create a dark base of scale enhancement.

[Rick Krane]

Fred mists some Light Bass green over the head and top of the back.
Fred works on hand painting scales with silver to create a mirror look to the scales.
More hand work is done to darken the edges of the scaling.

[Rick Krane]

Fred now applies the blues and the rest of the barring colors with some hand and airbrush work.
Back to hand painting the head and the face with shimmers and color.
A final once over and some fin painting to create the soft fin colors of a Striper and Fred is ready for Gloss.

[Rick Krane]

Paint schedule for Repro Striper

Dark Blue through out Next Buff off with steel wool.
White the belly and the head as reference would indicate.
Mist Payne’s Gray over the fish head and mid body.
Mist Light Bass Green to the very top.
Hand paint silver pearl to the scales
Mist a dark gray around the scales to enhance the edges.
Some blues and red pearls to enhance the scales as needed (use reference).
Gold and brass tot the top of the back scales as needed to enhance.
Powder blue mist in front corer of scales starting at the lateral line. Continue 3 rows down and 3 rows up tot the color line. You will only paint ever other row not each row.
Chocolate brown to the edge of the blue (repeat above steps) 2 additional line to the upper back above the blue lines.
A black umber to the very edge of the front half of the scale to complete your tread barring strip. Apply to the all bar stripes lines.

Use green and blue and gold powders to pearl the face.
Mist diver gray and Payne’s gray to the dorsal fins and the tail fin. Pelvic and pectoral are white with some Payne’s high lighting.

Clean eye and gloss.

[Rick Krane]

Here is Fred with his Finished Striper on a warmer winter day in NH.
Here are a few more finished shots of Fred Prides Striper.

I sure hope this paint schedule helps you. If you have any questions you drop me a line!

I hope you enjoyed this work of Mr. Fred Pride!

Rick Krane
Anglers Artistry

[CROW]

STUNNING!  Where can you purchase the green, blue, and gold powders? Again....absolutely beautiful!

[Bill Dishman]

its hard to believe that this is beginner work! All those subtle undertones are just perfect. Good job Fred!! There are taxidermists out there that have been in business 25 years and cant paint a fish that well. It shows what a dedicated student with some top notch instruction can accomplish.

[Jon S]

I love that eyeset! That is a tough area to do on a striper.

[Red stag]

Fred, there is only one word to say : beautiful!!!  ::)Thanks!

[Cape Haderis]

That is beautiful. I have never seen a Striper so life like. Simply beautiful.
CH

[JP a.k.a Taxi-lover]

You make it look so easy...wish I could do a paintinjob like that!! Cool,thank's for sharing!!

[Chad See]

Fred! YOU ARE THE MAN!!!   Great looking fish!!!  Congrats on all you have accomplished, you should be more than proud.  Way to go to you too Rick, another success story!

Chad

[Frank E. Kotula]

Great looking piece. What more can I say. I hope it's not too cold up there in those woods. Well done Fred.