Rick Carter Taxidermy Classes - New Photos added 11/30/11

[Rick Carter]

Over the years, I have judged and conducted seminars across the country at state, regional, national, and world shows.  During those events, I was often asked to provide private instructional lessons, but my schedule at WASCO did not allow the time.
Recently, the WASCO Monroe, GA facility was closed and moved to McKenzie Taxidermy Supply in North Carolina.  
Now, I will be able to offer private taxidermy instruction specially tailored to fit a client’s precise needs.   My greatest level of expertise is in deer, game heads, and mammals.  
My credentials include 30 years of experience, three National Taxidermist of the Year awards, two Bruchac awards for Best Whitetail Deer, four 1st Place Master’s Awards at the World Taxidermy Competition, multiple People’s Choice & Judges Choice Awards, as well as sculpting and product design awards.  I have scored two perfect 100’s at National competitions.  I was the “Back to Basics” writer for Breakthrough Magazine for 10 years and my work has been featured on the covers of every taxidermy trade magazine.  I have spent many years studying animal anatomy and have used that knowledge to sculpt several muscular and skeletal models that have been widely used throughout the industry.  My instructional methods are also featured in the #1 selling whitetail deer mounting video (DVD270), Whitetail Deer Shoulder Mount: A to Z with Rick Carter.
I am currently scheduling 3 to 5-day one-on-one instruction on a first come, first served basis.  This training will be intense and will be conducted with only one student at a time.  The student will have my undivided & uninterrupted attention for the duration of each course.  The classes will be designed specifically to fit the student’s request.  Open-mouth techniques (resin or acrylic), advanced casting & molding (RTV), finishing techniques, anatomy, skeletal mechanics…for any species of animal.  
These courses are for the taxidermist who wants to take their work to a higher level of quality and accuracy, even at the competition level.  
Pricing and accommodations will be structured to fit the student’s needs.  If necessary, the course can even be conducted at the student’s own studio.  
Call or email me if you wish to schedule a class.

Rick Carter
(706) 247-3681

cartertaxidermy@bellsouth.net

www.cartertaxidermy.com

[PacWest Alaska]

What a great opportunity for ANYONE. One of the best deer taxidermists in the world willing to share with others. Salute to you Rick and good luck. 

[michael p.]

Good for you Rick, I am sure this venture will go extremely well for you.  Best wishes my friend.

[Wildlife 1]

Good for you Rick, I am sure this venture will go extremely well for you.  Best wishes my friend.

X2

Might be  taking your course Rick when I get the time

[shammy]

Good Deal, and a chance for everyone to improve.

[Joey Arender]

I really wish I cared to do mammals. what a great opportunity this would be

[boarhunter67]

I'm scheduled to go.  I can't wait.  Things have been soooo stressful lately, I'm looking forward to a break and after speaking with Rick I have to tell y'all that he is very accommodating.   He is going to pick me up from the airport and drive me to and from my hotel each day.  He also told me what to bring and things that are too big to bring he is buying for me so it will all be ready.  Did I mention I'm excited?

[Rick Carter]

I'm glad you're excited. We will have some fun and learn a lot too.

[boarhunter67]

Well, I've spent 2 of 3 days with him and have already learned so much.  There are areas I never even considered before.  Rick definitely is a great teacher.  He's even been picking me up from the hotel (and airport) and he and Nikki take me to dinner before dropping me off at the hotel.  I can't go into all the areas he's covered because there are so many areas.  I thought I was just going to mount a couple of animals and see what I was doing wrong or could be doing better, but so much more. 

[Rick Carter]

Scott just left to return to Bakersfield, CA.  We spent 3 intense days covering boar, bobcat, deer, earbutt anatomy, eye scuplture, and even threw in a little fish painting.  Scott mounted a boar and a bobcat head.  We forced the boar dry enough to do the finish work in 3 days.  The cat will have to be finished once he returns home.  I hope the airline doesn't destroy it!  (Special thanks to Ryan Griffiths for the beautiful bobcat hide!)
Here are some photos taken this week...











   

[Bill Yox]

Rick, glad to see that folks are responding to your classes already. He looks happy he did. Good luck from a friend.

[antlerman]

Aw Rick.....we need to talk.   As in Midwest Regional Taxidermy Convention 2012

[boarhunter67]

Rick,
I still can't believe how much I learned.  I do have one problem: The whole time I was there, I kept thinking my mounts were okay, just not quite as good as what I would be producing after your instruction.  When I looked at the finished mounts before packing them up (they arrived here fine) I knew they looked better and feel pretty confident that I can produce those results on my own now everytime.  However, I was anxious to see how they compared to the mounts I had hat home that I still believed weren't too bad and in all honesty were better than most of the taxidermists in my town produce.  When I got home I pulled out the boar and bobcat and put them next to some average mounts I had recently done.  Now I want to through away my old mounts because they look like crap.  I know they are still better than most of the mounts produced by other taxidermists in town, but now I can see that my level has come up so much that I will no longer be happy putting out mounts that look like well mounted animals instead of looking like live animals.  The funny thing is it doesn't really take any longer to produce better quality and even saves time in some instances. 
To those who want to take their skills up a couple of notches, do yourself a favor and take some classes.  Including hotel, meals, flight, 2 animals worth of mounting supplies, and 3 days of one-on-one intensive classes, it totaled about $2000.  This is about 4-5 mounts for me and now I'll have these skills forever and they'll transfer to other animal species. 
While I was there he got a call from someone who had never mounted anything but was interested in lessons.  Rick said he could teach him, but his money would be better spent on DVD's and practice and maybe taking a cheaper class from (a person he recommended).  This showed me that he's in it to spread knowledge and help others, not just to make money.
 Rick and Nikki are great teachers.  He does everything he can to make sure you learn what you need to learn.  My bobcat hide slipped and he called around until he found a replacement at no cost to me.   I don't see how anyone of average skills could justify not spending the money to bring their skills up to where Rick brought mine.  Rick looked at pictures of mounts I sent him and taylored the lessons to what he felt I needed.  He also through in areas (striper painting, deer eye setting, etc.) that I specifically asked for that didn't have anything to do with the two animals I was mounting.  I might post before and after pictures later, but right now I'd be embarrassed to show the before even though I used to think they were fine.   If you can't tell by now, I strongly recommend him as a teacher.

[Big John]

Congratualtions to both you guys in doing a Great job.  With Rick's knowledge and experience it really shows off and I didn't expect anything less.  Great Job in keeping High Standards in this business.  Best to each of you in the future.

Best,

John Griffith

[boarhunter67]

Here are some before pictures.    I'm fairly certain that I can reproduce the quality of the boar and bobcat I did at Rick's now since I understand the process so much better and as Rick suggests I will start to work from the inside out rather than the outside in.