Critique Please

[Andy's Taxidermy]

hey guys,
just looking for some good input and feedback on my 4th bass.  any tips to make the next one better, im all ears.  here she is 9lbs. 

[oldterryr]

pictures may not be true color but - gold underlaying of green doesnt seem to be there - gold should extend down on belly - horizontal shading should be a series of dots not blobs - still i think it is very good

[Jerry]

Great mount!!  If you dont have room for it , I'll put it on my wall.

[visions of wildlife taxid]

belly appears to white, needs the backshading so to speak, and your lateral line appears to harsh or bold, as terry said its a series of dots used to create the barring and in this particular pic it appears to be "blotches" so to speak of black.  it has nice appearance, but some minor tweaks of the paint would make it snap, congrats, Russ

[Andy's Taxidermy]

thanks for the response guys.  I have been having problems with the horizontal shading.  what technique would you recommend to acheive the best look on the spot pattern on the side of a bass.  what it the theory on it, do you go natural or just well balanced and a good look.  Seems that i have seen it done both ways. thanks for any help in advance.

[hennist]

welcome to the wonderful world of taxidermy. looks great for your 4th fish. I agree on the lack of gold and spot patterns. use reference and always remember once you put it on its there. To little is better than to much. It can be stripped but its not really a lot of fun.

[visions of wildlife taxid]

for your lateral line i use my # 1 tip turned down and put dots so to speak in a nonpatterned sequence to recreate the lateral line and barring on the cheek under the eye, your fish isnt a bad fish so dont take my prior statement wrong, but when the lateral line is done in the matter i speak  of it will make a good mount great, also remember no 2 fish are exactly alike, so for us to tell you this is wrong or that is wrong is not really true, i mean really what is the "standard" by which a fish should be done, obviously there is those that are totally wrong, but yours is not in that category, you did fine on it, congratulations, Russ

[Andy's Taxidermy]

thanks for the explanation Russ.  i thought that might have been what you were talking about and it does make it click a lil better and look a lil more subtle when done that way.  how low do you turn the air down when your doing this?? thanks andy

[oldterryr]

15 lbs - thin paint with retarder

[visions of wildlife taxid]

my compressor is at 20 lbs and i dont thin with retarder, i use waterbase paints and turn the brush down to a light misting action with the # 1 tip.  Terry are you using laquer base paints ?

[Jeff F.]

Look at this picture I took of a just caught bass.(still living) It may sort out a few things for you. Best wishes.

[Andy's Taxidermy]

hey guys thanks for the help.  russ and terry i sure apreciate it.  jeff f thanks for the reference pic.  i skinned a bass today and im just gonna use the skin to practice my painting.  goin to try and get all the scale tipping down.  thanks again Andy