#utstopping

Don’t forget to go see the exhibit Visual Voyages at The Huntington Library before January 8th. My hummingbird cases (replicas of the 1851 John Gould cases) are featured along side original lithographs, illustrations and paintings depicting discoveries in Latin America. (Female Allen’s and fledgling Hummingbirds by myself pictured)

How-To! Here’s how I made my final Island Fox head form— custom sculpted by yours truly. Check out my IG at http://Instagram.com/Allis to see the process ; from sculpture to final head form for taxidermy. This only took me about a day all together including sculpting. (Materials: plaster skull cast, plasticine clay, bondo, paste wax, 8lb Polyurathane foam)

Our restored Giant Anteater taxidermy from NHM Los Angeles on display at the Visual Voyages exhibit. You can see how he’s using the huge claws to rip into a fabricated termite mound. In fact, these animals are so specialized that they walk around on their knuckles– the front paws are in perma-digging position! @nhmla @thehuntingtonlibrary .

Working on Armadillos has been an incredibly educational experience. These animals are built like tanks and have been incredibly hard to disassemble. Power-tools are my saving grace. Their tail is the most difficult; the spine being fused to the hard rings of the tail. I’ll post some process shots as this progresses. Nature is astounding!

Flashback to the Field Museum where I saw this Hoatzin specimen. They’re commonly known as ‘The Stinkbird’ because of their strong smell. Why so stinky? They have a unique digestion among birds where their food is fermented in their crop resulting in a strong /repugnant smell. On a side note, their chicks have claws on their wings. Basically they’re from another planet; or at least another time.

This is a reproduction of a Terror Bird (Paraphysornis brasiliensis), an ancient bird much bigger than you. ‘Reproduction work’ is something taxidermists or other artists commonly do for museums by working alongside scientists and researchers. While this guy was created from turkey feathers and artificial parts, his anatomy is based on fossil molds and tons of research. I only wish I knew who made this beauty! (at NhM Naturhistorisches Museum Wien)

Another in-flight taxidermy Hummingbird done. I saved these difficult poses for last so I’d be well practiced to complete them. Anyone want to guess what species? (Don’t mind the tape and pins)

All wrapped up and ready for the legs to be painted.