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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The painting is coming along very nicely, great work! Congratulations on the articles, drop in a link when they are up. |
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Location: Hastings, mn, 55033 | WOW!!! |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | After a crazy day of building baits I took an hour and did a little more work to the painting....
(P1010577 (Medium) (2).JPG)
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 P1010577 (Medium) (2).JPG (51KB - 289 downloads)
P1010581 (Medium).JPG (56KB - 247 downloads)
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | And a little more detailing. Note the algae growing on the piece of wood on the right.
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P1010591 (Medium).JPG (42KB - 122 downloads)
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| Very nice Snax. First one I've seen feeding downward, don't they usually strike upward ? I guess she is eating a sucker though, bottom feeder. It's just weird seeing a musky strike down, but it probably happens more than I think. |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | Great observation actually! I recently saw on Youtube a video clip of some baby pike feeding in a tank and one them was suspending near the surface then suddenly darted downwards to grab an approaching baitfish. I think that it used its lateral line to know where its prey was as I don't believe they can see downwards like that. It was one of the reasons for this painting being as it is. I resisted the urge to put one of my baits in its mouth...thought it might be a tad indulgent. lol |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | Nearly done now. I worked on it a little more this morning while waiting for the garage to warm up enough to work in it. Did I mention how much I HATE WINTER!!! 
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P1010597 (Medium).JPG (41KB - 141 downloads)
P1010601 (Medium).JPG (53KB - 133 downloads)
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | Here it is at the very beginning and now that it's done. Quite a transformation! I actually was going to have another Sucker scooting out from between the rocks that you can see in the pencil sketch. I emailed Musky Hunter Magazine about it so we'll see what happens. That would be too cool to make a front cover!!! (I can dream!) 
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P1010205 (Medium).JPG (33KB - 134 downloads)
P1010602 (Medium).JPG (49KB - 126 downloads)
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Posts: 284
| You said you never really shared your art befor but we have all seen your baits. No matter what anybody says thats art. You have any paintings that you have done in the past that are finished |
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Location: Oregon | Very nice.........
jed v. |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | Thanks guys!
I don't have any other paintings as I've never done any before. Not since I was about 10 years old anyway. This is the first and hopefully not the last. It's a great break from making baits all day (and night) and it keeps me growing as a painter which is obviously useful for the baits I make.
Once I get some prints done, if there's an event that MuskieFirst could use one as a prize, consider it donated. That's the least I can do for all the incredibly generous exposure from the site.
Edited by Musky Snax 3/9/2007 5:37 PM
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Location: Medford, WI | Great to see it finished Snax. Congrats on your first painting, and I hope to see more in the future!
Great job, Jake Bucki |
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Location: big cove tannery pa | Very nice snax great work |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | Hey guys, I heard back from Steve Heiting today regarding the chance of this painting ending up on a cover. I'm the first to admit that it is pretty far fetched to expect my first painting to wind up on a cover but it never hurts to ask!
If anyone wishes to contact him and try to persuade him otherwise please tell him why you'd like to see it on the cover. Thanks again for all the nice comments. Here's his reply:
Hi Mike:
Thanks, but we're not interested in this painting. Please keep us
informed of your future works, however.
Regards,
Steve Heiting
Musky Hunter Magazine
1-800-236-8759
<[email protected]>
Edited by Musky Snax 3/12/2007 10:03 AM
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Posts: 1636
| Mike, I would shoot for another magazine, because this is definitely front cover worthy. Then again, it is your first and hopefully not your last. I would like to see a painting of two muskies fighting over a big sucker. I saw this happen on Shelbyville. |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | allen - 3/12/2007 1:26 PM
2 ugly to be in a front page!
That's very helpful. Could you perhaps elaborate and explain what is ugly about it? |
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Posts: 551
Location: Columbus, Georgia | Mike,
Your painting is fabulous. If it is for sale, please send me a PM.
No problem with your retention of all reprint and/or publication rights.
Thanks,
Craig
Edited by cjrich 3/12/2007 12:50 PM
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Posts: 101
| Mike,
Just wanted to comment on how awesome a painting that is. I love the detail, and wish I could do something like that with my hands. I actually just finished painting my first lure this afternoon, and I think I've seen better paint jobs on hot wheels cars. 
Just my opinion, but I think they reason MHM wasn't interested in it was partly due to the fact that it is a sucker in it's mouth and not a lure. Not that they strictly print lure painting, but the maj. of them are. Another reason could be that they have some sort of deal worked out with the other artists, and couldn't do it due to a contract or something of that nature.
Once again, GREAT WORK, and I think it would look great gracing the cover of any fishing related magazine!
~Dawg |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | Thanks Dawg! I agree that the painting might not be suitable for a cover due to the graphic nature of the poor sucker being chewed! I have decided not to paint muskies with lures in their mouths and I have chosen to paint them as they exist in nature. I find that image far more enjoyable as the fish is free and not interacting with man. That being said, I do have a concept in mind for my next one which will have a fisherman in it but he doesn't have the musky on his line...She's just swimming up to the side of the boat as the fisherman is reeling in her intended prey! That one will be about an angler having an encounter with the "Queen"! The record breaking musky of lore showing herself but elusively not committing to a strike. How does that sound? |
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| the tail and the color in general |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | allen - 3/13/2007 9:07 AM
the tail and the color in general
The tail was one of the weaker parts of the painting but I basically faded it into the murky water so it shouldn't really detract from it now. The color of the overall painting was done to look like the murky particle filled water of the Moira River in Central Ontario.
I do appreciate the fact that you are being specific with your observations and I thank you for your input. |
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| I agree with the natural part, and you did nail that. I thought the color theme was odd oo for a sec. though, but dismissed it on the "natural" appeal. |
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Location: Iowa | Mike,
I don't care what anybody says to you...you truly have a talent that speaks volumes above you posts...this painting is awesome and is definetly better than some of the paintings that end up on the cover of Muskyhunter each issue...I look forward to seeing it there soon...keep up the great work...
Big Perc |
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Posts: 107
Location: Mayer, MN | looks amazing, just like your baits! |
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| You're a better painter than I am, but I'm afraid I agree that it's not front cover worthy. Here are the specific reasons:
1) The background lacks sharpness and detail. You explain that the water is murky, and that's fine; but my point is that the painting itself is murky (like is has a screen or film over it) regardless of your reasons. There are a number of examples of murky water paintings out there that you could look at and potentially learn from. In Mark Susinno's "On the Figure Eight" the water is tan in color. It reminds me of LOTWs, which is somewhat clear but not perfectly clear most of the time. In the painting, the color of the water is displayed in the background and the appearance of the branches below the fish helps me understand that the water is not perfectly clear. But the color of the water certainly doesn't overwhelm the painting, which to me makes it very well done.
2) The suckers look silly between their overly detailed mouths and giant fins. I would guess that you focused too much on painting those features which detracted from the high level appearance. If that's the case, I'd suggest concentrating on painting the whole fish and leaving some of that detail (especially the mouths) out.
3) The head and "torso" of the musky look good. So does the pectoral fin. I agree with the comments on the tail. Also, the fish overall doesn't look all that natural. It looks like a musky sticker that was placed onto a muddled background rather than like it belongs in the painting. I'd suggest working on "flow" with your next painting.
You're a talented amateur airbrush painter, but it doesn't seem like you are being honest with yourself about your skill level. I also think it would be exceedingly difficult to do a painting with an airbrush that looks truly realistic. Airbrush work in general always seems fuzzy or hazy, much like this painting.
I hope this constructive criticism is helpful. Keep at it and HAVE FUN! |
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Posts: 107
Location: Mayer, MN | It's funny how "guests" have such a critical opinion, they must have not seen your baits. Amateur I think not. |
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| wow guest u take the fun out of everything |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | Interesting observations "Guest". If you could log in and let us know your credentials it would certainly help in my taking advice from you. I never made any claims as to being a "professional" at this type of painting. Just to clearify, I AM a professional at painting lures for a living which is what I am known best for and also why Iwata-Medea asked me to do some how-to articles for them.
The overall look of the painting was calculated and purposeful. Look at all the photos from the beginning of the thread and see the evolution and layering. I wanted that murky river water and I achieved what I envisioned in my mind with the final result. You made some references about the suckers looking "silly". The fins are large on the suckers because that's how they look on the real fish. Do you even know what variety of Suckers they are? The mouth on the Sucker that is being eaten is not overly detailed compared with the rest of its body and the others are toned down to not take away from the focal point of the painting.
Art is subjective and honestly, I've seen far less realistic images grace the cover of quite a number of magazines which is why I thought abou submiting this one. It would seem that there are a number of others who agree.
If any of what you said actually had any merit to it, and I knew that you had any clue what you are talking about, I would certainly take it into consideration. The painting is what it is and I'm quite pleased with the overall tone and mood of it. I didn't want the background to be sharp. I wanted it exactly the way it is.
Edited by Musky Snax 3/14/2007 9:54 AM
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | I also meant to add that objects viewed underwater (at least in the Moira River) ARE fuzzy and hazy which is exactly why the airbrush is the PERFECT tool for this type of painting! It is very simple to get sharp details with an airbrush using frisket and masking which I also utilized for some of the features. I also used a sponge and acrylic paint to add the algae on the log to the right. I use multi media to get the result I want. I'm not stuck with using just one tool or another.
I find it amusing also that your first comment was that you are not as good a painter as I am. Now why on earth then, would I take advice from you! lol If Mark Sussino himself logged in and gave me some tips, I'd be sure to listen and learn. |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | Since I want to make sure that there is no doubting that I actually know what I'm talking about, I'll attach some of the reference photos I used in developing the painting. These were used to gain insights into how light and particles actually look. Then I created my own version of that reality. Here are some of the images I used...
(image2006-d200-2076.jpg)
(image2006-d200-4918.jpg)
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dscn1654.jpg (54KB - 127 downloads)
image2006-d200-2076.jpg (49KB - 128 downloads)
image.2004e0158.jpg (61KB - 139 downloads)
image2006-d200-4918.jpg (32KB - 113 downloads)
dscn2273.jpg (75KB - 175 downloads)
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