Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Pumpkinseed in diorama

Hi folks! Cecil Baird finished the pumpkinseed for our diorama. Isn't it a beauty?



Long-time Forum members know just how good Cecil is. Others of you can now start to know.

Yes it is!

Nice work, Cecil. I wish we had more PS way down south.

Well I'm sure glad this one got there in one piece. The last one I sent was absolutely destroyed by UPS! I changed the packing on this one and sent it Priority Mail instead!

Yeah, the first one about made me cry. It was gorgeous, as was this "replacement." Another fish added to the lifelist of "cool" fishes: the PUMPKINSEED!

There should be a market for these, Cecil!

the GSF should be next

beauty of a mount cecil

Thanks Cecil and Dave !

I want a better pic !!!

+1

OK. When I get back to the office tomorrow, I'll compress one less "notch" (Theo?) and re-post. It really is a beauty.

DIED -- I agree. About an 8 or 9 inch male green sunfish, with the long dorsal and anal fins, and the nice yellow edging.

Looks beautiful from the 16 pixels that I can see on this replacement computer.

My brother ordered a new one for me that should come in a couple of weeks.

Hey! The four colors on that palette are all you'll ever need.

If I did a GSF for an auction at the next Pond Boss show for the Jesse West foundation would you bid on it? Of course I have to get a couple of others done first.

OK, here are a couple of larger images. Maybe we can get Dr. Bruce up to a few more pixels! Remember, these are shot through a pane of glass.

"If I did a GSF for an auction at the next Pond Boss show for the Jesse West foundation would you bid on it? Of course I have to get a couple of others done first. "

Yes - and if Dave can think of anouther species that would help the exhibit I would bid on it also.

That PS may be the best looking mounted fish I have ever seen.

Wait until Cecil mounts a GSF. Now THAT'S a pretty fish!

Are you sure there's room?!

That is really somethin', Cecil.
Did you have to do any color touch-up?

I WOULD!!!!!

And your name would forever more be associated with the greatest artists of all time as someone that had the vision to forever preserve one of the most beautiful sunfish ever created for all of humanity to enjoy. It gives me chills just thinking about it (of course that could also be a result of the flu that I'm suffering with).

Not sure what you mean Brettski?

It's a white blank with semi-tranparent fins. The fish minus the fins is highlighted with dark brown and then fine steel wool is brushed over the scales to leave the brown in between the scales. Fish taxidermists that do replicas call it "antiquing" and the idea is to try and recreate scale detail you would find on a real fish skin. Otherwise the blank after painting would look kind of artificial and plastic looking.

The using a photograph I added the appropriate colors with an airbrush.

These pics will give you an idea:







Almost done!

It's getting deep around here. Where's that shovel?

Beautiful Punkinseed Cecil, Your a real artist.
Do you have both ears?

I didn't pay enough attention in your first class. I forgot the level of true artistry that is required to re-create. This just makes it all that much more awesome.

Guys thanks for the kind words but I don't consider myself a "true artist." This can be learned albeit in my case it's taken 24 years and I'm still learning.

I have a niece that graduated from a fine arts college. I could only dream to be able to do the things she does.

Bump. I just want to be sure as many people as possible get a look at this fish.