112 How To Make Fish Mounts 



Simple Painting 



In medallion-type trophies cast in plaster of Paris, wax, cast- 

 ing compound, or plastics, interesting and attractive results can 

 be obtained by simple methods. For example, spray the entire 

 mount with a copper, silver, or gold spray. These days this is a 

 simple procedure. All paint stores carry handy little cans of all 

 sorts of sprays which produce metallic effects. These sprays are 

 inexpensive; many fish can be done with one can. They are 

 easy to work by simply pressing a button or lever, and their 

 substances dry quickly. The angler may like to experiment with 

 bronze and oil colors to produce a patina effect ( the green rust 

 or aerugo that covers ancient bronze sculpture ) . 



If the angler prefers something closer to the true color of his 

 fish but does not have the talent to paint skillfully, he may delve 

 into a stylized type of painting. For example, a yellow perch 

 has a yellow body, black vertical bars, dark fins on top, and 

 orange-pink ones on the belly side. Oil colors as they come out 

 of the tube (plus a vehicle such as turpentine) can be used 

 without any attempt at mixing pigment and attaining the 

 gradations in coloration of a fine painting. However, the 

 correct number of bars should be reproduced; and if a fish has 

 spots, about the same number should be copied. In other 

 words, a stylized method is a diagrammatic sort of painting 

 which anyone can achieve. And results are surprising; about a 

 half dozen species of fish done in this manner make an interest- 

 ing and attractive collection. 



Painting with Oils and Brush 



If an attempt is made to reproduce the colors of the fish as 

 closely as possible with oil colors and brush, notes or color 

 transparencies, or both, should be taken of the fish as soon as 

 possible after it comes out of the water. 



Most fishes have a silvery base under the body colors which 

 can be imitated by spraying chrome or silver over the mount 



