hello I am a new to taxidermy need help with a paint schedule for painting a replica bluegill. I looked thru some articles with the search button but found nothing to helpfull I have some paint schedules out of old Breakthrough magizines but they just don't look very good (real) in my opinion. but some of my magizines date back to the early 80's so I sure ther are better ones out there now.. I anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated thanks...
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But before you paint the fish by the schedule use some dark brown and paint over the areas of the fish that will not be white. Then take some fine steel wool and rubb off the high spots to leave some of the paint in the low areas, between scales etc. Next fall the schedule just as you would we a skin mount.
My schedule has some diagrams to follow.
Cecil is definitely the guy for advice here, just want to add my 2 cents worth. I have painted a reproduction world record bluegill and ended up re-doing it. Why? I did the steel wool trick (which definitely adds a realistic look), and followed a couple different paint schedules. It looked pretty good but something wasn't quite right? Fins. The blank I bought came with blocky looking fins and IMHO detracted from the realism. I purchased a set of thin fins and started over. Much better look now. So, my tip is to be selective on the fins you use. Good luck.
a few questions is the scale pockets on a bluegill lighter or darker than the scales? Now if you follow the above suggestion will your replica match the color of the scale pockets on the real fish? Do we want to match nature as close as possible? Don't need an answer here as I have the answer Just food for thought or as it has been termed questions to make us think.
For the novice I think the steelwool/dark color technique is a simple way to produce some detail. Some of us have to learn to walk before we can run.
I get your point though. This technique is actually in reverse of what is on a fish skin. High spots are dark with scale pockets light.
Here's a person, Jeniffer, that is asking for help in painting a reproduction. Cecil and I offered some suggestions and I value his expertise and advice. You obviously KNOW the answers or at least that's what you say. So if you have the answer, why not let Jeniffer know how YOU would paint it instead casting technique doubt on what Cecil and I said. I have watched both Archie Phillips and Dennis Arp use this method with steel wool and sandpaper. They obviously don't know what they are doing either. These were live seminars put on video. I know what you are saying about the scale color difference and that's technically true, but that's not helping Jeniffer paint her bluegill is it?
thanks for your help I have sanded and filed down the fins that came with mt reproduction so that they look more real. and I will do the steel wool thing I was thinking I don't know how well this would work as i am a beginner but if you paint two coats of paint first your dark brown or black let dry really good and then put a layer of lighter color then wooled it down a little would that turn out with the darkness on the scale and lightness in the scale pockets ?
just a thought thanks again guys...
Why isn't it helping her? I offered some insight and suggested using reference to look for these details. Brian, I was not only helping her but you too. Did you look at reference? Did you see dark pockets? Is teaching her to paint something that isn't technically correct the right way? I could answer the questions but why? Don't we learn more by actually using our mind to research the answers and references ourselves. I think I remember reading that on here a while back somewhere, perhaps a few Sundays ago. Some more questions: I wonder if I rub the scales gently with a darker color if that would work? I also wonder what would happen if I painted the blank a taupe color and then sealed and repainted it white and then steel wooled. Would the scales be darker then? Would it match what I see in reference? Did Archie and Dennis match what they saw in reference? Using and interpreting references is what I consider the first step in a long walk or perhaps even a slight jog through taxidermy. When you learn that Brian you won't be needing those paint schedules you used to color that bluegill. Hope I helped everyone that needed it.
YES! Great Job! Thank you for proving my point!
if you put as much content into your first as last post, you wouldn't have got a response out of me. I agree with studying reference and "using your mind" but a beginner needs guidelines or steps to build on. You can think what might work but really don't know. That's why people ask. That's like instructing a brand new carpenter to study pictures of houses, inside and out, and then build a house. Speaking from a hobbyist with a short tenure in mounting fish, I have always appreciated the small initial steps and advice I received from Rick, Cecil, Marty, Jeff, George, etc. Armed with that, I studied videos, read books and practiced. I plan to enter a competition next year because I know I can learn from them. I'm sure glad Rick's response to me as a novice wasn't "go study some reference and use your mind" but it was "hey, why don't you try this". That's what I needed and speaking from that frame of mind, I didn't tell Jeniffer to look at fins and see what she thinks, I told her, in my experience she should make sure the reproduction fins aren't too blocky looking. Reference pictures are definitely key and I've amassed a boatload of them but without a base(some intial step by steps) to build on and learn from, it's much harder. That's my point. BTW, no reference for Archie. He uses those 55 gallon drum paint containers and sprays his reproductions black first. Dennis had reference pictures but used tie-in brown as a base, then sanded off. I think he used amber oxide next, then finger painted gold on the upper half (doing a smallmouth). So, Gary, I can't say that you helped me like your post says, but we did have an interesting round of posts. No hard feelings. I just finished a 23 inch reproduction smallie. I'll send you a pic if you want to see if I used good reference. LOL.
that she will have to enroll in one of his classes?
You boys are a hoot. The novice figured out what you fellas couldn't. Damn that must sting. It is refreshing to see a novice think for themselves. Cecil it seems like Jennifer is doing just fine on her own. As far as teaching goes it isn't me that is on here advertising classes so thats another swing and a miss. Brian you can feel free to send me a pic I have added my e-mail address this time just for you. Now you say Dennis is doing a smallmouth, and on those fish the scale pockets are darker than the metallic scale. Ssteelwooling as you described works just fine here. They(Bluegills and bass) are apples and oranges in the scale pockets. You and I agree that the steps are important and that was why I posted the questions not to give an answer but to get her thinking and it obviously worked. There are dozens of different techniques but there is only one goal, isn't there? No hard feelings here either---lol P.S. I would also tone the steelwooling down with a base color to knock down the contrast or antiqued look.
no sting here and no hard feelings either. But I have found the more information I give here the more students I get. In fact I have had to reduce them to the winter months as it slows down my production.
I still say you could be more open like the rest of us on here. Believe it or not, sometimes I get tired of answering questions on here. I've backed off responding only to find some of the posts don't get answered. Then I feel sorry for the poster and answer them. I'll be glad to back off if you answer a few. And I'm not talking about "Well what do you think?"
thanks for the information guys I have to say speaking from a beginners point of veiw somtimes when you ask a question on here it kind of seems like you guys are more intrested in proving each other wrong than in the real isue. thanks for your insight GB but I wasen't trying to help you prove your point just asking a question. ther are thousands of ways to do these things. thats what makes taxidermy an art everyone has there own way. I have not seen any of your mounts but from reading through this forum I can tell that you all know what your doing. thanks to you all for reponding to my post. have a great day!
I'm sure that being one of the best fish guys is a real accomplishment but being humbal is a better one. I read lots of diffrent post and some of the big name guys have class and some are a bit of an ass. I know that no one is born with all the knowlge but how refreashing it is when a big name guy shows their arrogants. No disrespct to you GB but I guess you forgot your passion for learning and forgot how hard it is for others to learn who wern't as fortunatre as you to have a good start with schools and persoanl leasons from other masters. I know you will read this as a slam but it is not. You have alot to offer to me and others but with your elite way of makeing your self seem like your above it all is not cool. I want to learn and this is a great place to do it. Cecil is here every day and so is marty to help but you act some times like all this is so beneith you. I to am a native of PA and a member and I watch how competing has made you different I have notisised. I don't need any greif so I will remain nameless. You and Frank K were the best in the sate but noew you don't even talk to him or others. You may be a great taxidermist but you smugly underhand slams others and flaunt your knowledge in your own way of self what ever. You once wrote on here often but now when you do it is like you can't be bothered. Oh well it is just my opinion and I'm sure I'll get slammed for saying so after all your the great GB.
Wow another GB. It is a shame you don't post your name, I guess to avoid confussion I will post mine. Lets review your post just a bit. You comment that I have alot to offer you and I say Great---Call and we can talk for hours. Many students and taxidemists that I don't know call on a weekly basis. If you would like to call to discuss fish or chastize me I can be reached @ 717-834-6501. I have written articles for Breakthrough for "you" I hope you read them and I hope it offers insight to the world of fish taxidermy. Why don't I post here often? Well I can't type worth a darn. I have spent 10 minutes typing this so far--lol. If you call me I can communicate much better the points that I will make and I won't need to spend an hour on the keyboard. I review taxinet as I get time but seldom post because My techniques are different than most taxidermists and I read a good bit of negative responses to my posts. Why did I post here because the technique didn't match the reference so I offered questions to hopefully get the poster thinking and looking at the references.
As far as the state shows go I am always available for discussion (barring I am not already taken by the PTA, my wife, or any other reason. In fact a typical critique will take 15-30 minutes. I also give away workshops free at most shows I judge. This is for the benefit of others not me.
Now lets visit your discussion of my background. The school I attended and the workshops were both assets that are available to everyone today. If you want it bad enough it is available. I worked multiple jobs for a long time to be able to attend those classes so believe me i know how hard it can be. I am soon going to offer free workshops, well at least the training is free. I would love to buy the materials for everyone but I am not that generous. These will be weekends probably quarterly and will include a morning bible reading and discussion. A few years ago Mike Kirkhart mentioned a book "the purpose driven life" and I recently finished it. I am more confused now of the purpose of my life but there is one thing I know. My fish Knowledge should be available to all. That is why I will offer these "fellowship classes". I hope that as a group we(including me)learn and grow in our fish knowledge and become closer to christ. I know that this may offend you as well but unfortunately I can't please everyone. I will try to be more outgoing and help even more people but like they say "we can lead a horse to water but we can't make him drink" Oh, I forgot to mention I will be judging the Harrisburg show and if you enter a fish perhaps you could win a free 8 hour workshop. Are you thirsty? Thanks for thinking I am great you obviously are referrring to my generosity because as hard as I try to perfect my craft I fail in comparison to what the lord creates I tell this to everyone often so you most likely have heard it before. Wow --this took about 40 minutes to type---I told you I am slow. I appologize for whatever I may have done to blemish your vision of me but get to know me and you will see I am not the person you think I am. God Bless
I certainly don't need to say to any one or defend Gary but I have known him for a long time and always considered Gary a friend. I would add that when I or Gary (not to speak for him) write on here some times it is hard to see the person on the other end of the computer. Even when I teach my classes or give seminars or what ever I must always remind my self that I need to be clear. I know Gary was just trying to push the envelope a bit and make some one think. Gary has always had passion and with that comes the thirst to learn. So as I would or any one who know Gary would tell you he wants you to learn too. As I said I don't need to say any thing on Gary's behalf but if you do have chance to go to the PA show in Harrisburg it would benefit you to spend a few moments with him and talk to him a bout your fish. Gary is a good christen as I know him to be and I couldn't imagine he would be above any thing when it comes to helping some one out with fish.
My Best!
Rick Krane
Anglers Artistry
Oh Hi Gary! It has been a while! Hope you're great! Maybe we could talk about some info you gave me that would help me out in that business situation we talked of. I've prayed on it and I know you have too. We all need to look out for each other as I know you do!
God Bless! Your friend!