#taxidermyprocess

Before and after a mount manicure. Wrapping up a very special piece for a very special [and patient] patron. Some people might consider this overly obsessive attention to detail but now these delicate thin claws are far less likely to get broken. I developed this technique about 18 years ago and use it on birds, mammals, and reptiles that have fragile and/or brittle nails. I also do it to hooves. First step is sanding the nails with ultra fine sandpaper to remove any white flaking keratin layers. Step two; nails get saturated with Minwax wood hardener which penetrates beneath the surface and into the nail fibers so they can’t continue to flake. Then the concave underside of the nails gets filled with 10-minute epoxy which reinforces the nails and strengthens them while insuring the nails can never split. After a couple of days when everything has cured they get a final buffing with extra fine steel wool to knock down the high-gloss of the wood hardener. Last step is a thin coat of satin-finish clear enamel. I love the natural color of animal claws and hooves and the subtle color transition from the base of the nail to the semi-translucent tips and edges. A manicure really showcases their beauty.

This fur stripping tool is a must-have; the “Furminator”. It’s designed for living animals but works equally well for taxidermy purposes. When it comes to creating taxidermy mounts, it seems like a lot of people prefer an animal with a winter coat because the fur is at its thickest. Personally, when given the choice I avoid winter coats. An animal that has put on its winter weight can be a pain to skin because there is a lot more fat to scrape off, versus an animal in summer pelage. Additionally, winter pelts often need degreasing before and after tanning while lean summer animals require less cleaning so you can get away with a single degreasing, or no degreasing depending on the species. But the main reason I don’t like working with winter animals is because their fur is too fluffy for the specialized types of pieces I create. I prefer a low-loft coat that hugs the armature/mannequin and creates a sleeker profile. A Furminator effectively combs out the puffy woolly undercoat while leaving the slick top coat/guard hairs in place. (as shown in this photo of a fox that I’m working on) A Furminator can be used before the animal is skinned or after it’s mounted, albeit if doing the latter you will need to be a bit more restrained so you don’t tear the hide. #TaxidermyTips #TaxidermyProcess #Taxidermist #FemaleTaxidermist #WomanTaxidermist #Furminator #FurCraft #AnimalHides #AnimalHide #AnimalPelt #AnimalPelts https://www.instagram.com/p/B_XZHpMAduh/?igshid=49edzadq1y3l

These are a few of the most important things required when I begin working on a urethane foam taxidermy mannequin. The Static Guard spares me a lot of headache as I rasp and sand the urethane foam. It helps keep my tools, clothing, hands, and the mannequin as dust-free as possible while I work. In addition to measuring and tracing an animal's carcass to create my armatures, I also save the legs in most situations. The bones are defleshed but still held together by tiny amounts of residual tissue. Retaining them is useful in two scenarios; They can be used as a visual reference while sanding urethane foam legs to insure the correct shape is achieved. Alternately, I will sometimes use the bones in the construction of my armature rather than shaping urethane foam legs. In this latter "old-school" method the leg bones get completely cleaned, lashed onto the wire armature, then the wire and bone are tightly wrapped to one another with twine and flax roving until the correct leg shape is achieved. Also pictured is my go-to reference book; "An Atlas of Animal Anatomy for Artists" by Wilhelm Ellenberger. This is thee most important book I own. It's a must-have item for anyone sculpting an animal. It contains diagrams of skeletons and musculature, as well as detail drawings of feet, head, eyes, legs, and joints. Regardless of which method you use to create a taxidermy armature, an understanding of an animal's skeletal structure is absolutely essential.

This week is mostly birds. #taxidermy #taxidermyprocess #intetiordesign #interiors #interior #birdtaxidermy #commission #cockatoo #leadbeaterscockatoo (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CbqTbBCq8Mp/?utm_medium=tumblr

🦌🦌🦌 Triple Whitetail from our friend @joe_coome Check out his page and follow him, very great work and amazing photos! #taxidermythursday #taxidermy #taxidermyart #taxidermyforsale #taxidermist #elktaxidermy #deertaxidermy #beartaxidermy #sheeptaxidermy #taxidermycollection #taxidermylife #taxidermyrestoration #taxidermytuesday #taxidermyofinstagram #taxidermybird #taxidermycourses #taxidermymount #taxidermybusiness #taxidermyprocess #taxidermyworkshops #taxidermydeer #huntingguide #huntingguides #huntingoutfitters #huntingconservation #sheephunting #bearhunting #elkhunting #muledeerhunting #fishtaxidermy (at South Dakota)

Real Baboons in a Tree Display by Riz 2000.00 #johnnyrizzocomic #taxidermy #taxidermie #taxidermia #taxidermist #taxidermyart #taxidermyforsale #taxidermylife #taxidermyshop #taxidermyclass #taxidermylove #taxidermycollector #taxidermycollection #taxidermydesign #taxidermyworkshop #taxidermyclasses #taxidermycafe #taxidermyartist #taxidermyprocess #taxidermybusiness #taxidermymount #taxidermy #baboon #baboonshow #baboonface #baboonlove #baboons #baboonbar #baboon

Tracings are a favorite thing of mine. This one is for Mr. Bruce, the pet Persian cat. These rudimentary drawings aid in the building of the form, which mimics the size and mass of the actual specimen. #taxidermy #taxidermyprocess #preciouscreature #pettaxidermy #petprocessing #preciouscreaturetaxidermy #rainbowbridge

Samantha's up on the board today💖 #taxidermy #taxidermyprocess #taxidermist #reference #preciouscreature #preciouscreaturetaxidermy