Taxidermy Class |
Colorado Prospector - Gem and mineral prospecting and mining forums > Exploring Our Universe > Living Off The Lands  |
Taxidermy Class |
 Feb 25 2011, 07:40 AM
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#16
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 Master Mucker!  Group: Admin Posts: 7,197 Joined: 7-October 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 4  |
Looks cool Swizz! Bet your having a blast learning all the different techniques involved.
Cant wait to see more, hope all goes well.  Too funny Astrobleme!
-------------------- Education is the key to the future,
and participation opens the door to opportunity. Discover your prospecting independence & success! ColoradoProspector.com Owner/Webmaster Core team member ♥  |
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Feb 26 2011, 07:22 PM
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#17
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 Moderator Group: Members Posts: 4,459 Joined: 25-August 09 From: way on up thar Member No.: 6,983 |
Thanks Denise,
I had another good session today. This is a pic of some of the detail on my practice head so far (without gloss). This head won't be on my fish but it'll look similar. A mold is cast from a real fish head and poured with Bondo. It's hollow and maybe 1/8" inch thick when pulled from the cast.... then painted, from scratch.  -------------------- /l ,[____], l---L-OlllllllO- ()_) ()_)--o-)_) BLACK SANDS MATTER! Very Happy CP Lifetime Member CP CORE TEAM Referral Code CE213 |
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Feb 27 2011, 07:58 AM
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#18
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Master Mucker! Group: Admin Posts: 7,197 Joined: 7-October 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 4 |
That looks great! I have no doubt that your finished piece is going to look amazingly real.
 Keep up the good work Swizz, your doing great! -------------------- Education is the key to the future,
and participation opens the door to opportunity. Discover your prospecting independence & success! ColoradoProspector.com Owner/Webmaster Core team member ♥ |
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Mar 5 2011, 07:11 PM
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#19
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Moderator Group: Members Posts: 4,459 Joined: 25-August 09 From: way on up thar Member No.: 6,983 |
Update
I learned to paint fins today. The following pictorial is today's progression of painting my first practice fins. These are similar in size and shape to the fins that will be on my fish. They were cast from an actual fish and are made of a translucent flexible material. My practice fins: one side fin and tail fin This is just after I painted the tail white, but prior to painting the side fin so you can see the translucency  Remarkably, the fins will remain translucent throughout this process Light easily shines through the tail fin after the initial coating of white seen here  The following pics are my progression of paint layers      This is how they look with some gloss  These fins will go in the trash, as they were just for practice Instructor was happy with my progress today and I may begin painting my mount for real tomorrow!
-------------------- /l ,[____], l---L-OlllllllO- ()_) ()_)--o-)_) BLACK SANDS MATTER! Very Happy CP Lifetime Member CP CORE TEAM Referral Code CE213 |
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Mar 6 2011, 08:02 AM
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#20
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Master Mucker! Group: Admin Posts: 7,197 Joined: 7-October 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 4 |
Your doing a fantastic job Swizz, your finished piece is going to be awesome!
Thanks for the process pics, its cool to watch the transformation. -------------------- Education is the key to the future,
and participation opens the door to opportunity. Discover your prospecting independence & success! ColoradoProspector.com Owner/Webmaster Core team member ♥ |
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 May 15 2011, 09:23 AM
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#21
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Moderator Group: Members Posts: 4,459 Joined: 25-August 09 From: way on up thar Member No.: 6,983 |
OK... for those interested, here is my completed project. I received high marks from the instructor and plan to continue this pursuit.
The specimen is a 25" male Cuttbow (Rainbow/Cutthrout Hybrid in spawn colors) which I caught in North Park last year. I have included several pics of the head because it was done with metallic paints, powders, and smears to achieve the true holographic characteristics of the real thing. I took pics from different angles in an attempt to illustrate this but it has more depth than the camera depicts. The fish is posed swimming in an "S" curve, although it's hard to tell from the pics. Fun and challenging project!      
-------------------- /l ,[____], l---L-OlllllllO- ()_) ()_)--o-)_) BLACK SANDS MATTER! Very Happy CP Lifetime Member CP CORE TEAM Referral Code CE213 |
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May 15 2011, 03:34 PM
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#22
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Master Mucker! Group: Admin Posts: 7,197 Joined: 7-October 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 4 |
 That turned out fantastic Chris, you did an incredible job on it!! Amazing detail!  Sweet display mount too! I have seen some displayed in shops that didn't look half that good. After the pictures, I don't think anyone will believe it's your first one though.    Good job!!! -------------------- Education is the key to the future,
and participation opens the door to opportunity. Discover your prospecting independence & success! ColoradoProspector.com Owner/Webmaster Core team member ♥ |
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May 15 2011, 07:48 PM
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#23
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Moderator Group: Members Posts: 4,459 Joined: 25-August 09 From: way on up thar Member No.: 6,983 |
Thank you Denise! That means a lot coming from a fellow artist and I appreciate it.
-------------------- /l ,[____], l---L-OlllllllO- ()_) ()_)--o-)_) BLACK SANDS MATTER! Very Happy CP Lifetime Member CP CORE TEAM Referral Code CE213 |
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May 17 2011, 10:41 AM
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#24
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 Master Mucker! Group: Admin Posts: 4,149 Joined: 7-October 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 3 |
Awesome job on that project Swizz, that fish looks as if it was caught just this morning!
  I'd say the taxidermy would be a good thing to pursue, you've got quite a talent for it. Sweet fish, thanks for sharing through this project. I'm sure you'll always remember the day you caught that one! 
-------------------- CP-Owner/Administrator
www.ColoradoProspector.com IF YOU USE IT, THE GROUND PRODUCED IT! MINERS MAKE "IT" HAPPEN!! |
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May 17 2011, 06:29 PM
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#25
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 Master Mucker Group: Members Posts: 1,439 Joined: 22-February 04 Member No.: 98 |
She's right Swizz. You have done a great job.
-------------------- Today's socio-political climate is rock solid proof that Adam and Eve weren't prospectors.
If they were they'd have eaten the snake instead of the apple and we'd still be in heaven.... |
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May 17 2011, 08:31 PM
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#26
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Moderator Group: Members Posts: 4,459 Joined: 25-August 09 From: way on up thar Member No.: 6,983 |
Thanks guys, I appreciate the encouragement and definitely plan to continue. It's fun and could possibly lead to supplemental income during my slow winter work months.
 The poor economy doesn't seem to have effected the taxidermy industry. Our local shop is busy as ever. -------------------- /l ,[____], l---L-OlllllllO- ()_) ()_)--o-)_) BLACK SANDS MATTER! Very Happy CP Lifetime Member CP CORE TEAM Referral Code CE213 |
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May 19 2011, 06:03 AM
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#27
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Master Mucker! Group: Admin Posts: 7,197 Joined: 7-October 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 4 |
Its not just encouragement Chris, your extremely talented! From what I have seen, your ambition with talent and interest will take you to the top.
Keep up the good work, your talents and updates are very inspiring! 
-------------------- Education is the key to the future,
and participation opens the door to opportunity. Discover your prospecting independence & success! ColoradoProspector.com Owner/Webmaster Core team member ♥ |
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May 19 2011, 07:32 AM
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#28
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Moderator Group: Members Posts: 4,459 Joined: 25-August 09 From: way on up thar Member No.: 6,983 |
Thanks Denise! The feeling is certainly mutual. The works created by you, Dan, Jim, and others here are definitely inspirational to me as well.
  Now... get back to work on that hand polished Opal heart, waiting to see that one! 
-------------------- /l ,[____], l---L-OlllllllO- ()_) ()_)--o-)_) BLACK SANDS MATTER! Very Happy CP Lifetime Member CP CORE TEAM Referral Code CE213 |
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Jun 2 2011, 07:39 PM
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#29
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Shovel Buster! Group: Members Posts: 174 Joined: 17-March 11 From: Thornton, Colorado Member No.: 13,932 |
Swizz, That is a fantastic job on the fish, taxidermy is a feel fun hobbie and can be a good money maker as well, and it looks like your off to a real good start.
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Jun 6 2011, 09:44 PM
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#30
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Shovel Buster! Group: Members Posts: 174 Joined: 17-March 11 From: Thornton, Colorado Member No.: 13,932 |
Sorry Swizz, I ment to spell real (not feel),
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