This past October, a close friend of mine caught his personal best from the surf... a 33 pounder. He was so excited, and wanted to get it mounted, but just didn't have the cash, and figured he'd wait until he someday got a bigger fish... That got my brain going, so when he wasnt looking I traced the fish onto newspaper and tucked it away...

So for Christmas I decided to make a plywood cutout of the traced fish and sketch out some details, and there you have it... Poor-man's taxidermy... Took me about an hour and a half to draw the details,(black and white pencil) but now I wish I put more effort into it... The next one I try will be full color with acrylic and brush, and will take more time... try to make it look wet.

Oh yeah... I also took the photo which he's been waiting for, so i gave him the framed photo shown in the pic, along with the fish...
He loved the gift... the least I could do for such a good friend and fishing partner!!!


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4215017010_64b8e8c86b_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2506/4215017008_28abe0b983_o.jpg

I'd say that was one hell of a gift! Great work on the head of the fish, looks great!

That is awesome...beautiful work.

make sure that bad boy gets sealed...hate to have that get faded or washed away

you are a very dedicated friend to have.

Nice!!!!

Can you be my friend, Please please!

That coooooool! your a good friends,
I`m sure he knows!

Planned on getting a skin mount if I ever caught a fifty until I found out they cost $1000+. I like what you did! (looks better than those dumb fiberglass replicas).

Can you be my friend, Please please!

That coooooool! your a good friends,
I`m sure he knows!

No kidding,,, That is incredible,,, classy too,,,,

Looks great but didn't you paint the wrong side (ha ha)?

That is really nice work you've done there.

very cool

Breathtaking talent.
That looks way better than any striped bass mount I've ever seen.

thats some serious talent right there

Beautiful! Nice work bro..

Something tells me Ivan has touched a paint brush before :)
really nice artwork :kewl:
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

sweet!

Beautiful work!

Awesome job. My wife's uncle used to do the same thing, his Cape house was full of them.

That's great work!

Nice

well done, IVAN!!!
very artful representation of
our beloved species,,,,,,,,,,,,,

you should think about teaching or somethin'.
:biglaugh: :biglaugh: :uhuh: :uhuh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:

Wow.. very nice work!

Awsome putski. Let's get phil out this year for a bigger one.

Beautiful work!!

Really impressive.

Cheers, 'putski.

Well done - I can only imagine what you can do with the airbush.

NICE!!! I like it

Sounds like the start of a blossoming business idea, if not a awesome hobbie!

awesome work ! nice job , You are a good friend

Me Likey!

What a great idea ! You are crazy if you don't set up a part time business doing this on the side. I'm sure there are lots of guys who can't afford a real mount, but would love to have something that reminds them of their trophy catch.

Very, very cool...