Why does everyone paint now? Literally everyone

[bassmaster0726]

Why does literally everyone paint crankbaits now? It seems just a few years ago it was a small group of people who actually painted but now it seems anyone and everyone does it! I’m not saying it’s a bad thing but it’s definitely flooded the custom bait market and what used to be custom is just another crankbait. It’s kind of ridiculous. I think a big part of it is the Facebook pages, they see people painting and they want to do it. They paint for a week total and are all of a sudden opening a custom crankbait business. It just makes it hard for painters who are talented to make a living as crazy as it seems, and yes there are a few that do, to be able sell there paint jobs when it just gets copied by one of the Facebook page newbies and next thing you know they are trying to sell that color. Another thing the Facebook page has ruined is the learn as you go part and the time it takes to actually develop the skill to paint well. Everyone wants the know how and the how to put right in there lap. Just ridiculous man. 

[bassmaster0726]

And if you have to ask how to make a certain color you probably shouldn’t be painting anyways. 

[Vodkaman]

Bassmaster - Part of this is down to the beauty of the internet. Anyone can learn a skill far quicker and efficiently than they ever could 20 years ago with hundreds of videos available on any subject. This makes many people who had to learn the hard way bitter on the whole subject. I came across this attitude when I first joined TU, I was told to put the work in.

I think quick and efficient learning is a very good thing. The question that you should be asking is 'what is the definition of a custom lure'.

For most people, custom means slapping a coat of paint on a cheap Chinese imported blank and selling it on Ebay.

My definition of a custom lure; to design and build a lure for a single customer with a specific set of requirements, size, action, depth, shape and paint job. A design that is not or is no longer available commercially.

Custom could well be just the paint job, but the customer would send you the lure and request a certain pattern and set of colours.

If you obtain 500 blanks, paint them with a few of your own best patterns and put them up on Ebay, these are simply lures for sale, and definitely NOT custom lures for sale.

I too am disappointed about the whole 'custom' thing. You, because now everyone can encroach on your 'custom' business. Me, because the whole art of lure design and building has been devalued to the point of neglect. Just like calligraphy, lure design is a dying art.

I actually own an Iwata but have never opened the box, it has never seen a drop of paint. All my lures are painted white, purely for visibility, to allow me to examine the movement. If I ever bring a lure to market, which might happen soon, it will be painted black. As a compromise, I might make blanks available, probably not on second thoughts. I don't believe in paint as a fish attraction, I believe it is all about movement.

Dave

Edited June 12, 2019 by Vodkaman

[bassmaster0726]

I just don’t like the Facebook page painters rip off colors. I painted a bait that had a craw pattern with black and red a few weeks later I see one for sale on the page with the exact same craw pattern and color. Man I was pissed 

[Vodkaman]

My opinions on painting plastic lure blanks are well documented. I was even reprimanded by the TU management for upsetting paying advertisers. Reprimand is a bit strong, more of a 'please stop it'

Strangely enough, people who attempt to copy famous, successful lures do not bother me in the slightest. I know that there is a lot more to copying a lure than shape alone. Most will fail but they will learn something about lures on the journey. In fact, I would recommend trying to copy a favourite lure in the learning process as many experienced builders also suggest.

Those who can copy a commercial successfully have all the skills to produce their own masterpieces. I often wonder why they bother, but I guess it is a challenge. I was even considering writing a thread dedicated to reverse engineering a lure without destructive examination even though I have never done it before.

I never view the gallery. I am not really interested in the current trends. I do not want my design ideas to be affected by what others are doing. Basically, body shape is a covering over the internal structure although it does have some functionality.

Because I am not commercially competing I see no reason for secrets. I even received a couple of angry PMs for revealing design secrets that they had been cashing in on for years. However they need not worry, many read the articles but very few try the ideas out. The few that do are only producing lures for personal use.

I probably got a bit off subject with this post, but there you go, I am rambling

Dave

[Hillbilly voodoo]

No offence but painting is just that painting. I respect the talent with an airbrush but in the end it’s just decorating a lure that someone else made. There is only so many combinations and if you are matching natural feed things are even more limited 

Maybe I just don’t get it because my focus is on building and action more than painting. 

In the end if painting is what you base your business on and competition is hurting you it’s time to find something that makes you stand out from the others. It’s just how business goes 

Good luck

Edited June 12, 2019 by Hillbilly voodoo

[clemmy]

I think there is room for everything. The idea of “custom” varies by individual, and there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with that. I think the difficulty comes when it marketed a a “custom bait” rather than a “custom painted” bait. I do think painters that copy should list the color as the color listed. For example, chartreuse with purple back should be “table rock shad”  or “Hughsey TR Shad, or similar, not some random made up name. I think that would show a bit of respect or tip of the hat to the originator, even if you don’t know who it was). I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having a bait painted in a color not normally offered in that bait, like asking someone to paint a “Missouri Craw” on a Fat Rap.

If you do it better, or cheaper than others, more power to you. If a fisherman has a belief that a custom paint job will catch him more fish, then it will. He’ll be expecting to get bit, pay better attention, use it more, etc. I personally believe that color can be important, but according to my research, fine detail doesn’t matter to most fish like bass on a moving bait, but depending on water clarity and color, light, depth and what the fish are keyed in on, color can matter. The exception would be slow moving baits like jerkbaits, suspending baits, etc. then they can get a longer look.

 

To my mind, order of importance is depth>action>size>color. But I could well be wrong. My wife certainly tells me I am often enough, lol.

 

out of curiosity Bassmaster, what kind of lure did you paint?

Edited June 13, 2019 by clemmy

[Hillbilly voodoo]

@clemmy

I understand what you are saying about trying to give respect for the original painter of a pattern by using the name the original name. The issue is take a guy like myself who has no clue about fancy pattern names or search them out I just paint my lures. Odds are I have painted “custom patterns” without knowing it

It’s no different than fly tying in my opinion. I have seen patterns tied privately for years and then down the road someone names it and claims to be the creator. The possibility is very possible multiple people without the others knowing were tying the pattern before it became well known 

Those who paint, fly tie, pour baits, build jigs, spoons, spinners, hard bait and any other fishing related craft has to realize odds are someone will build/paint something close or knock off what you do

Only way to limit it is if what you do is difficult to figure out or involves a high level of difficulty 

[bassmaster0726]

What I am mainly concerned with is the the Facebook page painters, “brotherhood of custom crankbait painting” and places such as bass baits buy and barter. The people in these pages will not hesitate to try and rip any good color or patterns off. I have a stencil for one of my cranks that has a very distinctive and unique swoop on the front behind the eye for a craw pattern. I posted a few on the Facebook auction site and sold them well and by the way this stencil looks nothing like the others, next thing I know a few weeks later I see a guy 3D printing stencils and selling them to people with this exact swoop on the front of the bait, you can not accidentally make that. Another one I may or may not post pics because I’m sure it will be ripped off on here too is a black and red craw color, that’s it just those two colors with a red eye. Again it’s like nothing out there because you know I try and use my imagination and creativity to set myself apart from the rest. Again I post this on an auction page and it sells really good, a few weeks later someone is painting this exact color pattern with the same eye down to the T. I can’t stand that I can’t be creative or come up with something unique without it be blatantly used by someone else’s uncreative mind. It’s like they want the fastest way to success, instead of finding your own colors and patterns they fu$*^*g rip others off. I mean I can understand a craw pattern is a craw pattern and a color is a color but these two simple things I cane up with can not be mistaken for any other normal paint scheme, totally unique. Pisses me off, I’m really about to be done with custom painting because everything you put out there ends up on a Facebook page for the next guy. The painting game has became a completely saturated joke. Full of anyone and everyone painting now. People who have never touched a fishing pole or a crankbait in there life are painting crankbaits, these are usually the ones ripping people’s shit off. Sorry for the negativity I really am but I’m just fed up with it.

[Hillbilly voodoo]

Lots of people seek the easy way out and this goes on with a lot more than lure painting.

I would recommend don’t sell stencils if you don’t want people to replicate them or copy your work. You won’t catch me selling my moulds 

Clearly you’re frustrated but I don’t know what else to tell you other than continue to do what you enjoy 

 

[Vodkaman]

So much pain!

I feel lucky, no one can copy my shit, even when I give directions

Dave

[mayhem1202]

If anything is perceived as a route to easy money, people will always jump on the bandwagon I'm afraid. 

Half the problem is that airbrushing lures to a standard that looks good enough to attract buyers doesn't require particularly advanced skills. A cheap airbrush, a few homemade masks and stencils, and a few hours practice, will suffice. The other half of the problem is that in order to sell your painted lures, you need to show a photo of them, so your pattern is out there for all to copy straight away, and if it's a good one you can sure that it will be.

I have to agree with Vodkaman though, in that whilst I do enjoy the painting stage, the process of making the lure from scratch, to behave how I want it to, is the most rewarding part. It also makes reproducing what you've made beyond the skills of a lot of would-be copycats.

[ravenlures]

This happened years ago, my mother made dish towels and did a great job and enjoyed making and selling them at craft shows. Then everybody was selling and some copies of what my mother made, that made her mad. So here we are with fishing lures, gun racks and many others that will be copied. We are getting older and retired and need something to do beside going to the casinos. I been working on lures and sold some my own style and now going bigger and passing this on to my grandson. If someone wants to copy them then so be it, the Chinese have been doing it for decades.

Wayne

[Hillbilly voodoo]

8 hours ago, Vodkaman said:

So much pain!

I feel lucky, no one can copy my shit, even when I give directions

Dave

But do you have lures you can’t even duplicate yourself  lol

I also don’t worry because I know people maybe able to create lures that look a like easily but it’s going to take someone with brains to re create the action 

[Vodkaman]

7 hours ago, Hillbilly voodoo said:

But you have lures you can’t even duplicate yourself  lol

Sooo funny

Dave

Edited June 13, 2019 by Vodkaman

[bladesandbaits]

On 6/9/2019 at 1:54 PM, Salty's said:

Hows that clearcoat working out

 

On 6/12/2019 at 1:24 PM, bassmaster0726 said:

Why does literally everyone paint crankbaits now? It seems just a few years ago it was a small group of people who actually painted but now it seems anyone and everyone does it! I’m not saying it’s a bad thing but it’s definitely flooded the custom bait market and what used to be custom is just another crankbait. It’s kind of ridiculous. I think a big part of it is the Facebook pages, they see people painting and they want to do it. They paint for a week total and are all of a sudden opening a custom crankbait business. It just makes it hard for painters who are talented to make a living as crazy as it seems, and yes there are a few that do, to be able sell there paint jobs when it just gets copied by one of the Facebook page newbies and next thing you know they are trying to sell that color. Another thing the Facebook page has ruined is the learn as you go part and the time it takes to actually develop the skill to paint well. Everyone wants the know how and the how to put right in there lap. Just ridiculous man. 

 

On 6/12/2019 at 5:02 PM, Vodkaman said:

My opinions on painting plastic lure blanks are well documented. I was even reprimanded by the TU management for upsetting paying advertisers. Reprimand is a bit strong, more of a 'please stop it'

Strangely enough, people who attempt to copy famous, successful lures do not bother me in the slightest. I know that there is a lot more to copying a lure than shape alone. Most will fail but they will learn something about lures on the journey. In fact, I would recommend trying to copy a favourite lure in the learning process as many experienced builders also suggest.

Those who can copy a commercial successfully have all the skills to produce their own masterpieces. I often wonder why they bother, but I guess it is a challenge. I was even considering writing a thread dedicated to reverse engineering a lure without destructive examination even though I have never done it before.

I never view the gallery. I am not really interested in the current trends. I do not want my design ideas to be affected by what others are doing. Basically, body shape is a covering over the internal structure although it does have some functionality.

Because I am not commercially competing I see no reason for secrets. I even received a couple of angry PMs for revealing design secrets that they had been cashing in on for years. However they need not worry, many read the articles but very few try the ideas out. The few that do are only producing lures for personal use.

I probably got a bit off subject with this post, but there you go, I am rambling

Dave

Destructive examination is not necessary. Just take it to my veterinarian and have it x-rayed. 

[mark poulson]

On 6/12/2019 at 10:27 PM, Vodkaman said:

So much pain!

I feel lucky, no one can copy my shit, even when I give directions

Dave

That is the truth!

 

[goolies]

LOL!  Paint patterns or schemes cannot be owned by any one person or company.  I find it ironic that a custom painter is complaining about someone ripping off his paint scheme, when he is putting that scheme on knock-off lures ripped off from other manufacturers.

Edited June 14, 2019 by goolies

[bladesandbaits]

8 hours ago, goolies said:

LOL!  Paint patterns or schemes cannot be owned by any one person or company.  I find it ironic that a custom painter is complaining about someone ripping off his paint scheme, when he is putting that scheme on knock-off lures ripped off from other manufacturers.

Ha! Very good point sir!

[RM3]

16 hours ago, goolies said:

LOL!  Paint patterns or schemes cannot be owned by any one person or company.  I find it ironic that a custom painter is complaining about someone ripping off his paint scheme, when he is putting that scheme on knock-off lures ripped off from other manufacturers.

That is incorrect. An original paint pattern is just like a drawing, painting or photograph and carries an implied copyright. The problem lies in enforcement of it. Unless your paint scheme is truly unique  and a large company like Strike King or Rapala is the one copying, enforcing you rights to the pattern you produced would not be economically feasible.

[RM3]

On 6/12/2019 at 11:16 PM, bassmaster0726 said:

What I am mainly concerned with is the the Facebook page painters, “brotherhood of custom crankbait painting” and places such as bass baits buy and barter. The people in these pages will not hesitate to try and rip any good color or patterns off. I have a stencil for one of my cranks that has a very distinctive and unique swoop on the front behind the eye for a craw pattern. I posted a few on the Facebook auction site and sold them well and by the way this stencil looks nothing like the others, next thing I know a few weeks later I see a guy 3D printing stencils and selling them to people with this exact swoop on the front of the bait, you can not accidentally make that. Another one I may or may not post pics because I’m sure it will be ripped off on here too is a black and red craw color, that’s it just those two colors with a red eye. Again it’s like nothing out there because you know I try and use my imagination and creativity to set myself apart from the rest. Again I post this on an auction page and it sells really good, a few weeks later someone is painting this exact color pattern with the same eye down to the T. I can’t stand that I can’t be creative or come up with something unique without it be blatantly used by someone else’s uncreative mind. It’s like they want the fastest way to success, instead of finding your own colors and patterns they fu$*^*g rip others off. I mean I can understand a craw pattern is a craw pattern and a color is a color but these two simple things I cane up with can not be mistaken for any other normal paint scheme, totally unique. Pisses me off, I’m really about to be done with custom painting because everything you put out there ends up on a Facebook page for the next guy. The painting game has became a completely saturated joke. Full of anyone and everyone painting now. People who have never touched a fishing pole or a crankbait in there life are painting crankbaits, these are usually the ones ripping people’s shit off. Sorry for the negativity I really am but I’m just fed up with it.

Then quit. Or stop trying to sell your stuff on a public forum. While I agree it is B.S. to ape someone elses paint jobs, it is an inevitable fact of life when you post on a public forum with millions of users. I am a member of several groups on Farcebook and honestly, from what I have seen, the cream rises to the top as far a what sells and for how much on the auction pages. If people are truly copying your patterns and they are truly unique, you are free to use the "implied copyright" part of the law and hire a lawyer to send out cease and desit letters to everyone.

Personally, if I notice someone posting a bait that was obviously inspired by my pattern, I take as a compliment and move on. The so-called "custom tackle" business has never been much of one, and the number of folks actually making a living at it is small, very small. So my advice is, paint for the joy of it, sell some if you can, and don't be all butt hurt. After all, I am sure that you, like everyone, started of copying someone else's work until you gained the skills and confidence necessary to become creative and produce  your own.

[woodieb8]

funny. I started full time squirting in 1985. yes theres many paint pirates out there..whatamazing me is when I get a phone call for paint schedules to copy my work. .I am not dissing guys that want to do there special creations,just businesses that want and never give back..i will never own a lambo,but I still enjoy building,and helping out youngfisherman..actually im a sucker for little upstarts,to help them catch a trophy.

[mark poulson]

Unless you are making your living painting custom baits, I think there is no reason to hide your paint schemes.

I am no painter, but my self-painted baits get bit, and everything I know about lure painting I learned here at TU, and from Barry Starud (Barry Baits) and John Hopkins.  People shared with me, and I think I am obligated to share with others.

One of the most generous artists here on TU in terms of answering paint questions is also a very successful commercial lure painter.

 

[Skeeter]

Here is the way I see it. You just have to worry about yourself. You cannot stop what you are talking about. So you just need to do it better than everyone else. It is not an easy thing to do. Being the best never is. Bottom line is.....How bad you want it?

Skeeter

[clemmy]

On 6/30/2019 at 10:32 AM, Skeeter said:

Here is the way I see it. You just have to worry about yourself. You cannot stop what you are talking about. So you just need to do it better than everyone else. It is not an easy thing to do. Being the best never is. Bottom line is.....How bad you want it?

Skeeter

Jeff is spot on. Think of it in terms of fine art. You can try to make a version of DaVinci’s Mona Lisa, but it would look horrible in comparison to a master. There is also so much you can do with finishes/technique in terms of basecoats, layering, foils, candies, textures, effects, fades, etc.  And there is research on why you are painting in this pattern/manner. Have you researched vision, color transmission, strike triggers, various types of contrast? You need to know the depth a certain bait is used at, and what way it is fished and at what time of year. Even clearcoating can give you an edge in clarity, scratch resistance, impact resistance, etc. If you’ve put the years of practice, research, etc. in, I think it will show compared a fly by night person that thinks it’s easy.

 

Craig