First Customer Fish

[Andy's Taxidermy]

guys im looking for a good critique on this one...if you see anything that would make it snap id like to here it..thanks guys this site is great

[Jimmy Lawrence]

Hey Andy.  Welcome to the site.  Im really not anyone to give you advice, but here are some things you can change for next time!!

First, look at reference pictures of whatever fish you are working on.  Reference is and should always be your most important tool/teacher.  Work on your fin positioning a bit.  Especially your pelvic fins.  They should lay a bit closer to the body.  You look at reference, you will see what I mean.  Also, try not to paint quite so heavily on the entire fish.  Go lighter.  Allow the fish's natural colors to kinda come through.  It looks "painted".  Granted, every single fish anyone will do is "painted", but the trick is not to make it so obvious. 

Other than that, just keep at it.  Practice makes perfect, and use your reference.  Hope this helps!!!!!!!!!!  Dont be a stranger on here.  There are the top fish taxidermists in the world that frequent this forum.  And most of them will give you advice if you ask.  Keep up the good work,

Jimmy

[Jim Tucker]

I'll give 2 cents since you asked.

Your head and cheeks are too dark

The green on the sides should lighten as you get to the belly.  In fact the sides below the lateral markings should have much green at all.

Your markings look stenciled.  Markings should be broken up not solid.

It is obvious that you have the skills to use an airbrush.  I would suggest taking a real hard look at reference photos when doing your next one.

here's a good one....it is not me by the way.

[Andy's Taxidermy]

guess i should have mentioned that this was a really dark fish to start with....but i dont like the lateral strips that much....i did all marking by hand with a brush.   thanks for the tips guys

[Jim Tucker]

guess i should have mentioned that this was a really dark fish to start with....but i dont like the lateral strips that much....i did all marking by hand with a brush.   thanks for the tips guys

I run into those dark fish all the time in Canada.  It CAN be tough to paint them.

The secret to those IMO is using even LESS paint then I would on a lighter colored fish.

[Wayne S.]

Jim is right less paint is better, Next time try misting your paint on I think you will like the results alot better.

[Wayne S.]

Oh bye the way great reference picture Jim

[Scrubby]

Good clean looking fish for commercial work . Other than the lateral line work on your fin lay to make it better. Some fish lend themselves to less paint. When you get to doing some great lakes fish or a reproduction you have to paint the fish. The trick is to making it look like it is not painted that will come with experience. Take your reference and try to duplicate the fish for your customer.

[Bill4bass]

The first thing that I noticed was that the head and neck area may be pulled out a little too far. For some reason it doesn't look quite natural. JMO.

[bradc]

Some fish lend themselves to less paint. When you get to doing some great lakes fish or a reproduction you have to paint the fish.

i live by lake huron but i am not open to the public yet for fish and i havent tred one out of the lake yet. all my stuff so far has been stream trout but what are you talking about on great lakes fish?

[George Roof]

It's hard to believe that I'd agree with Bill4Bass, but I think he's absolutely correct.  The FIRST thing I noticed was the over extension of the head and mouth.  Notice the caught fish.  See how the top lip is still below the silhouette of the body?  In MY PERSONAL OPINION, the mouth is opened far too wide.  Sure, they may look similar to that when they're tail walking trying to toss the hook, but go to Cabela's or Bass Pro and watch how they feed.  They suck prey into their maw by quickly opening their mouths and vent their gills to suck the prey in.  Inside the bottom jaw, you'll see a membrane "apron" that lifts when the prey is sucked back into the crusher teeth and it prevents backflow of water which would allow the prey to escape.  The way your jaw is opened, the bass will have dislocated its jaw.

[Bill4bass]

Holy $h!t George, I think I'm gonna have the big one now. What is the world coming to? 

[George Roof]

When IN MY OPINION a person is right, he's RIGHT and I'll stand up for it in any audience.

[Scrubby]

Great Lakes fish chinook salmon lake trout steelhead trout brown trout. Try just lightly misting the belly of a salmon and the customer will bring it back in a while when it really turns yellow underneath and give you a different shade. Great lakes trout or salmon Erie they have steelhead, Michigan, lakers  slamon trout etc. 

[Jamt225]

"The fish is the teacher"

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_plywood_aquarium.php