OK, so I don't have an airbrush-I'm a hobbyist who does cakes for friends and family- and a friend wants a cake in the shape of a bluegill fish. I'm not sure how to do this. I'm using ganache and fondant. Should I color the fondant green first and then add the details or should I just dry brush with luster dusts? Also, is there a way that you can use gels to paint on fondant where it won't come off and color people's teeth? Thanks for your help.

Man, my picture didn't load. Let me try again. The bluegill:

UGH! here's the link:
http://faculty.bsc.edu/mgibbons/bluegill.jpg

Thanks!

I would color the fondant to you light/base color and then paint on the details and then highlight w/luster dusts. You can mix gel color with vodka or clear vanilla extract.

HTH
Kristy

Thanks so much!

You can also mix airbrush color with the pearl dust- then paint it on. That way you could mix say a green with silver luster. Just do the details or edges. Then take a white pearl mixed with vodka thin, and paint over with a larger flat brush- like watercolor- blend it into the rest of the fish body. That way you'd have lighter areas like the belly, but it would be subtle blending.

Thanks so much for the hints. They really helped. Here's what the finished product looks like:
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1786215

Wow, that turned out GREAT!

Very nice.

thanks!

SJC: I mixed Americolor's avocado and Wilton's Brown and Moss Green. After it cured overnight the base was great. Then I brushed with blue, light green and gold luster dusts. For the stripes I used cocoa powder.

that cake is adorable !!

Thanks, tesso!