Painting Reproductions

If the customer is not paying for both side to be done why would you?

 

I'm not disagreeing with anyone here but I think it's up to the taxidermist. I just go ahead and paint the back side as it doesn't seem to take much longer for me. l also do that on my skin mounts. And two eyes.

 

I agree with Cecil on this subject. If my name is attached to the mount, I’ll treat it as I would a pedestal mount. Having said that, I charge accordingly. Understand that my circumstances allow me latitude to spend extra time on my mounts. I’m not trying to pay for a store front every month and my kids are grown and independent. It makes a big difference.

 

On wall mounts I carry the paint over the other side and paint enough of the backside head/tail along with setting two eyes (even though one eye makes more sense IMO it's not worth the argument and possible backlash from the uneducated customers to install only one). But, no way do I spend the time detailing the wall side for nobody to see. For that they pay 50% extra.

Agua3777 - no matter if you have a storefront or whatever your situation is, it all comes down to what you value your time at. Personally, I have a lot invested into my business and my background and I'm not giving my time away. I have to get paid well to motivate myself to do the work!

 

On an aggressive outward curve I could see the possible need to paint more. But again, they're paying for that!

 

I mount most fish with a minimal amount of curve. It makes the fish look larger. I use the backside to adjust the airbrush and amount of color I want. I do go over the back and belly with the proper look. Any area that can be easily viewed.

 

Backside is painted black.
Very little paint is "wrapped" to the backside.
2 eyes, but the backside of the face is not painted either.
If I have not "wowed" or impressed the customer with the front side, then painting the backside is like putting lipstick on a pig, IMO.
Let me preface this; I let every customer coming in the door know what they are going to receive when their fish is done. And on wall mounts, the customer normally only looks at the back and in the open mouth when the mount is picked up, after that it will hang on the wall and they will forget what they even saw. If the customer would like to pay for seamless both sides and correct anatomy inside the mouth, then they can pay for it. JMO.

 

I paint both sides
but back side has no real detail
of any kind
Was the mona Lisa painted on the back side?

 

There are a lot of mounting options available, Most of what I do are pedestal mounts so the Idea is you don't really notice the attachment. On wall mount there are several bracket options available, I prefer an attachment that keeps the fish out away from the wall a bit so the paired fins are still displayed in a lifelike manner. Often My reproduction wall mounts are attached to driftwood or something like that, in that case I will typically attach with gorilla glue and wooden dowel. Be careful with that stuff it can make an awful mess! The gorilla glue foams a bit and makes an extremely strong bond as my blanks are all foam filled.

 

Just as easy to apply hints of color to the back as to blow primer. I am with Fishart......a bit of coloration on any parts curved out........(on a replica). Skin mounts....a bit on the head and tail........the rest is a felt strip to cover any seam, and baisic darker color........brown on a brown trout, silver one a cuda, etc. Works of art do not come two sided, neither do photos. No reason, eh?