First replica

I'm no expert by any means. And with only doing fish for awhile the one thing that I can tell you is study reference. Your red body line is a little to high. Study and reading reference has helped me. Good luck!!

 

Hi, the key to success is to have the reference photos available before you paint This will give you a better "plan". I am not sure if you've had the opportunity to view a rainbow painting video, but TTU's Frank Kotula's video will get you started on the pathway to success! Best of luck, John

 

For a "first"....this is a very good start! Reference is key. Good going!!!

 

Great job. Are the high lighted scaled hand painted with a brush? Airbrush work is very nice. Like they said, the red stripe is a little high and (to me) looks too narrow, but then again, each fish is different. I've caught fish in the past that I thought would look ridiculous if they were painted the way they really were.

 

The bad news is, I officially hate you now LOL. My first replica was so horrid, absolutely NOTHING like this beauty!! Congrats! You probably didn't ask for critique, but incase this is helpful, I would work really hard on perfecting your spots. That, and nailing the location of that red stripe and dang!! You're right in there! DS

 

I'm guessing you used a sharpie for the spots? Painting then on with an airbrush will make them less harsh and more realistic IMHO. Additionally the tail spots are usually more elongated.

And I don't know about others here but the spots I have observed on the rainbow and steelhead I have mounted are a very very dark brown not straight black. Look black but not as harsh as straight black as with a sharpie. Anybody else agree?

Your fish was painted as a lighter bow and therefore I would have gone more subtle with the spots.

 

#1 Nice job.

#2 Retarder for your air brush paint drying issues.

And #3, I think most bows that I've seen (generally speaking) have their stripe centered slightly below the lateral line with more color below it than above. That's not to say your fish didn't have it as high as you painted it, but you can always cheat a little bit here if the original looks a little "off". JMO...