Author Topic: Airbrushed To Life - Fish Taxidermy by John Wilesmith (Read 6646 times)

Admin · « **on:** January 10, 2012, 08:01:16 pm »

Want to preserve that fish of a lifetime for a lifetime and beyond?

Take a look at the work of Tasmanian fish Taxidermist John Wilesmith. A true craftsman with many years of experience in the ceramic industry, John has an amazing eye and attention for the smallest details and uses on the best materials to make his works as lifelike as possible.

Check out his work on his website www.airbrushedtolife.com.

Trophyman · « **Reply #1 on:** January 11, 2012, 09:36:59 am »

The website will be updated later this week with some more recent mounts including a beaut 6lb Brook trout, will let ya know when all done

Chris · « **Reply #2 on:** January 11, 2012, 09:40:04 am »

Thanks John

Trophyman · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2012, 10:30:09 am »

My website has a bit of an upgrade with a few recent mounts added including; a beaut 6lb Brooky, a Big Waterhouse Brown, a Lake Cresent Brown and a couple of others. Also added a trout wall hanging key rack to the ceramics page.
Check it out if ya wish at www.airbrushedtolife.com
cheers John.

Chris · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2012, 10:39:03 am »

That Brookie looks fantastic John!

Excellent colours in the fins..... Sure is a nice looking fish.

Trophyman · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2012, 09:48:15 pm »

Cheers Chris, yeah it was a lovely fat speciman in excellent nick. Was the first one id worked on, the skin was sooo thin, almost like paper, very delicate. The scales are also tiny , almost not visible. The colours are most striking too, must have been quite beautiful when fresh out of the water, I think they are a member of the Char family. That Brooky was featured in Tas Fishing News a couple of editions ago, a pic of when Sheree caught it from her hobie.

Rockinrobertson · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2012, 02:59:14 am »

John,
What is the best way to prepare a fish for mounting etc? As in storage, do you like them whole with guts still in etc? Just waiting for my next big Capture and I will be sending one your way, but want to make sure I keep it in tip top condition.
regards,
Tony

Trophyman · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2012, 08:52:31 am »

Cheers for that Tony. Yeah field care is important , it reflects in the finished mount. Dont gut the fish, fold the fins close to body, wrap tightly in cling wrap, lay on board or flat surface and freeze with show side up. Most importantly, (which a lot of fishos overlook)take good pics of the fish when fresh out of the water and still has its beaut colours. Good to have as reference when painting the colours onto the mount.

Cheers.

Rockinrobertson · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2012, 10:12:08 pm »

Thanks for that John. I was wondering what you had to do etc. Worst part about it is that with most clubs they want them gutted for official weigh ins etc which sucks. Thats where one has to sacrifice the heaviest fish for a memory for life!
Regards,
Tony

meppstas · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2012, 10:28:05 am »

I have seen Johns work close up and it is brilliant, highly recommend his work........

Trophyman · « **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2012, 10:56:44 am »

Thanks for that Brown trout

Still possible to do mount of gutted fish Tony providing got good pics of fish when fresh from water.Makes the taxidermists job trickier with gutted specimen, most wont touch it but ive done it quite successfully.The hardest part is hiding the belly incision but that can be done with correct techniques When I received Matts fish the guts had been taken out of it via the throat it was all sunk in along the belly, managed to pack it out before moulding n it looks good again now.

.

Rockinrobertson · « **Reply #11 on:** February 06, 2012, 08:01:59 pm »

Cool John, So if you pull the guts out through the head etc that's ok? What about gills do you require those in tact or can they be removed also as long as you have plenty of pictures? Sorry for all the questions, but I plan on getting my next big fish done, but would also like to be able to weigh it if possible as well.
Regards,
Tony

Trophyman · « **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2012, 08:22:55 pm »

It dont matter about the gills Tony, you can cut them out. Which ever way you decide to extract the guts try to do it without damaging the rest of the fish too much. I think you might have to cut the throat latch(underside of head where joins body)to get guts out that way, dunno ive never done it. I hope youre lucky enough to catch a big fish and be faced with the dilemma !!!

meppstas · « **Reply #13 on:** July 12, 2012, 01:57:54 pm »

Here is one of Johnno's fish that he has just completed, came up great I reckon..... I can only dream
of having one.......

Also a nice Brown that he finished not too long ago as well.

Trophyman · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2012, 04:29:14 pm »

Thanks for that Adrian, looks like youve taken up the job as my PR Manager

That Brown trout is a Tyenna fish (16 lb) I did last year. The Rainbow was recently finished , I was particularly pleased with how it finished up. When I received that fish it had been gutted and cut at the throat latch. First job on a gutted fish, a lot trickier than a standard job but end result was worth it.

Better beware, Adrian has a catalogue on file of my mounts, looks like he's gonna be posting em about the place , just as well as im slack !!

meppstas · « **Reply #15 on:** August 29, 2012, 09:14:42 pm »

Here's a fish Johnno's working on at the moment...... Caught in Craigbourne.

Chris · « **Reply #16 on:** August 29, 2012, 09:16:09 pm »

Nice work Johno!

Thanks Adrian. Is that the young lasses fish by any chance?