Bear aggressive mount Lip slot method

[rasorbackq]

I spend a lot of time on this great site and figured that I may be able to assist someone as  there is not much about bears in tutorials.
I am only a beginner taxi  but will show the lip slot technique that I read about  on here.

 Started off with a  shoulder mount and  built up the gum line with colored epoxy.   Other rugs I did were done with natural epoxy and then I got mouth paint over spray on the teeth.  It was a pain to clean up so from now on will use the flesh color epoxy sculpt.




 next I added the muscle and  facial details showed in both pics. As well add the lip slot  lip slot runs along the bottom edge of the clay work as well right at the edge of the upper lip line.  I used an 1/8 drill bit and a Dremel machine.


 Then I installed the eyes and clay them in . I tried to get them close but they usually get moved when the skin is installed and worked.
 
 

 After I get the clay work done I place the form in the freezer for 1/2 hr to freezer the surface of the clay. This will stop the eyes and clay from ending out where the ears butts go.
  While the form freezes I  mix up some bondo for the ears

 I shape the ears  and pack the butts with clay as it will be the last time I can get to them as this cape is not split so no sewing is required.

 Next is the form is covered from the eyes back with hide paste and the cape installed


 Then roll the face back and add the hide paste to the muzzle area.
  Get the nose close and then work on the lips. Start in the front middle and trim off the original lips and tuck with a tucking tool  Tool I seem to use is the tool that comes with the whitetail paint color kit . Some kind of a modeling tool works well for tucking though.


 I added some pins as this was my first time using the lip slot method.

 finish the ears and eyes

 Next pic shows the lip slot after several weeks of drying.



 Fill and blend the lip slot with flesh color epoxy





 let dry and paint the fur line black I didn't paint the epoxy with flesh color paint as I forgot to paint the gum line.  I finished up the painting and added some varnish to the gums to give the wet look.


 Like I said I am a beginner taxi and have lots to learn  but the basics of the open mouth bear lip slot method is posted.
Thanks.


 

[Randy Miller]

Jeez

[jake95]

not bad.. i have a question, is there really a need for all that clay around the eyes? i was watching a how to video from McKenzie showing how to mount a black bear the the guy just used 2 little peices for the eye lids. just wondering.

[Matt Marulli (OTT)]

It takes time to put one of these tuts together so good job on that. You need to go back and check out a bunch of reference on open mouth bears. You have given this bear way too much lip with no shape. keep working at it, you will get there but only if you use reference.

Good luck,
Matt

[rasorbackq]

 Jake .   There is not much clay used  its just all feathered into the form.
 Yes I did use more then 2 little rolls.

[jake95]

ah okay, i see now. Thanks

[George Roof]

The eyes aren't the issue.  Like Matt, that mouth is not realistic.  The top of the mouth is far too long in front of the front teeth.  On the bottom, a bear has very little "lip" to show.  Though the bear has a prehensile lip, this is just too much of a good thing being represented.

[rasorbackq]

 Looking at the top teeth location I see what George is saying.   But I didn't install the teeth .   They came installed from the supplier.  No names mentioned. Didn't even notice that .

[jake95]

The eyes aren't the issue.  Like Matt, that mouth is not realistic.  The top of the mouth is far too long in front of the front teeth.  On the bottom, a bear has very little "lip" to show.  Though the bear has a prehensile lip, this is just too much of a good thing being represented.

i know the eyes werent the issue, but i was curious.

[rasorbackq]

   For a ref that most can view look at McKenzie Cat#36 page 266   my bear lips are not that much different then this.  I have seen several bear rugs on here with  very large bottom lips . But thanks for the comments .

[George Roof]

Look a bit closer at that picture. The actual lip is no more than half an inch. The hair coloration is deceiving.

[Redwolf]

  For a ref that most can view look at McKenzie Cat#36 page 266   my bear lips are not that much different then this.  I have seen several bear rugs on here with  very large bottom lips . But thanks for the comments .

NEVER use someone elses mount as reference. EVER! I don't care HOW good the guy was that did it.
All your doing is copying a wrong.
Live reference is a must.

[Charlie Schram]

George that is a Detroit bear, much different than the Eastern variety! LOL

[Matt Marulli (OTT)]

   For a ref that most can view look at McKenzie Cat#36 page 266   my bear lips are not that much different then this.  I have seen several bear rugs on here with  very large bottom lips . But thanks for the comments .

Look here.
http://www.critterzone.com/animal-pictures-nature/mammal-bear-black-Ursus-americanus.htm

at this picture
black bear closeup JPMBB0097