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How I Create Realistic Images - Fish

Exhibition Design, Illustration, Painting

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Art MacKay

BCornwall, Prince Ed

Fish Illustrations by Art MacKay

Mixed media works for various clients and for fun.

Financial success with illustrations seems to be fitting the time to completion into the
clients financial expectations. So ... I discovered the quickest way to completion is to drive
the illustration back and forth between computer and manual rendering. Using both
computer generated colors and color rendering with acrylics, conte, chalk and other
media that achieve the desired result. Clear transparent spray seals it all.
Fortunately, there are many excellent public domain drawings dating back a century or
more. These folks could really draw and their taxonomic details are usually impeccable. I
will use these when time is limited and the client agrees. There are several great examples
in this portfolio. If nothing is available, I go back to my fine point pen and ink. Usually I
retain these as black and white images and start the color workup on a computer
rendering on high quality illustration paper or tracing paper.

Alewife Resourcefile / $14.99

BUY THIS

ALEWIFE: Based on a black and white drawing from the US Government, I reworked this
one with ink and colorized it using acrylics and pastels.

STRIPPED BASS: Another based on an original black and white drawing from the US
Government. I added some ink work and colorized it.

SHAD: I really like this work ... it glows the way I wanted. Mixed media over
an ink drawing. Enhanced with ink again in the final stages.

SMALL-MOUTHED BASS: This ink and mixed media work was prepared for a poster
created for a salmon conservation organization. Good action. Good colors.

AMERICAN EEL: Line drawing for a biological supply company catalog.

CHAIN PICKEREL. Common in warm lakes and backwaters where it likes to hide out in the
weeds waiting for some unsuspecting smaller fish to pass. Very aggressive, It is a favorite
of young anglers.

ATLANTIC SALMON: Salar "the leaper"" is considered by many anglers to be the king of
fish. This illustrates a migraiting male and female.

ATLANTIC SALMON EGGS,. Showing newly spawned and eyed eggs.

ATLANTIC SALMON SAC FRY. Advancing fry carry their nutrients from the egg with them
during early development while they learn to feed on stream foods.

ATLANTIC SALMON. A mature male.

ATLANTIC SALMON PARR. These beautiful parr live in their home stream for many
months while they grow and prepare for their trip to sea.

ATLANTIC SALMON SMOLT. Once they are ready to go to sea, parr undergo a remarkable
change that allows them to live in salt water. Once this transformation occurs in the spring, they

migrate to sea and travel as far away as Greenland.

ARCTIC CHAR. A beautiful fish from the north, the Arctic Char also occurs in numerous lakes to
the south where it was trapped as the Laurentide Glacier advanced north. The males in breeding
colors are spectacular.

BROOK TROUT. Every kid's favorite, Brook Trout occur in our stream, ponds and lakes up and
down the Atlantic coast.

BROWN TROUT. A native of Europe, this introduced species has successfully established itself
in numerous lakes, rivers and streams along the east coast. Generally difficult to catch, it can
reach considerable size and is treasured by anglers.

LAKE TROUT. Common in many cold water lakes along the east coast, the Lake Trout generally
lies deep during the summer but works the surface waters after the ice breakup in the spring.

RAINBOW TROUT. Introduced to the east coast, Rainbow Trout are established in a few
locations. They are a beautiful salmonid and a favorite of anglers.

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Appreciated on March 6th, 2012

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Art MacKay's Portf

Cornwall, Prince Edward
Island, Canada

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