How to paint fish scales????

[KansasJeep]

I have this crazy Idea on painting fish scales. I want to be able to paint a Bass boat to have the exact same color scheme as a Bass, or what ever fish I want. I want to make it look as realistic at possible. From shading in the green color on top that fades down to whitish silver, and then have the black diamonds in the middle. the fading wont be hard. I just don't know how to get the scales on it. Any help would be great.

P.S.---Not actually painting a boat at the moment. This thought Just crossed my mimd, and wanted to work out all the bugs before I made a test panel.

 

[hoss]

here's what i'd do. i've not done it either, but....

spray the boat a silverie gold color. something w/ the bass color. do all of your scale shading, then do your colors in kandi. kandi green and yellow or whatever the color you want.

do a google or yahoo search for the fish you want and go from there. you can probably do a lot of the shading w/ a free hand stencil.

 

[Ultra Al]

Hoss has some good ideas, expanding on them, I would add hi lites using some pearl in my airbrush over the candy and maybe even a little shade shift paint. Then the final clear. Are you using a special clear coat for marine applications? Reason Im asking is Im thinking of painting my bass boat, nothing as elaborate as yours just some teal with monster flake and white. Another thought, if you have a local taxidermist I'd stop by and talk to him. A lot of taxidermists have gone to airbrush. Al

 

[hoss]

i think people just use a regular (good hard curing) auto clear. i'm pretty sure.

 

[KansasJeep]

All very good tips, Thanks. How do I achieve the scales. I know snake scale are made with fish net pantyhose, as I've done some helmets for some people. How would I get fish scale? Surely there is a trick of the trade.

 

[dreamer]

Probably the most used method is to use spray mask patterns(stencils, or hand shields) for the several sizes of scales.You will need to make several in different sizes and shapes for the different size of scales and shape they take on as they wrap around the fish.Also you may need positive and negative images, one for the scales and one for the shadows.The second method would completely mask the boat and draw the shapes on the mask, then cut each scale as you paint each one.Some sign shops can even cut a mask that you would apply and take off the shapes as you need to during the painting process.This is a very complex job, and would be a challenge to even the most experienced artist. You should gather every detailed picture you can find to refrence as you work.

 

[GODORACER]

HI KANSAS
I HAVE USED POTATO BAGS ,STOCKINGS OR WHATEVER WILL MAKE THE SHAPE YOUR LOOKING FOR ,BUT HERE'S ANOTHER TRICK IF YOU WANNA TAKE THE TIME YOU CAN PRINT SCALES OF THE NET THEN OVERLAY THEM ON CONTACT PAPER AND CUT THEM OUT WITH AN X-ACTO KNIFE THATS WHAT I WOULD DO IF YOU WANT IT PERFECT HOPE THIS HELPS
GODOKROME@AOL.COM

 

[dreamer]

Did you ever get around to painting your boat? I saw one going to the river last week with a body wrap (not recomended).

 

[perfectcolor]

Thanks for this.. :bigokay:

here's what i'd do. i've not done it either, but....

spray the boat a silverie gold color. something w/ the bass color. do all of your scale shading, then do your colors in kandi. kandi green and yellow or whatever the color you want.

do a google or yahoo search for the fish you want and go from there. you can probably do a lot of the shading w/ a free hand stencil.