Habitat combination-what do you think?

[Sikk]

Here is a recent mount. Real cedar,custom cast rocks,  dyed dried moss, art. icicles and snow and ice, oh real mink. ok- I want some real artistic critique here. How did I do with color, form, and is it complimentary to the mink pose or is it too much? paul

[Ross Vogler]

I really like it, but personally, I would put it on another wooden base that has a dark stain to it to compliment the fur. I would make that base 1/3" the thickness of the existing base. Just to make things clear, using the same base, but putting a smaller base under that one that is thinner, and sticks out approx 1/2" all around. A nice contrast. IMO

Nice work

[duxrus]

I agree with Ross...a DARK base would definitely compliment the colors better maybe even a black one. One thing that really stands out it the green of the moss. In a winter scene I would have stuck with all browns. Green and snow just doesn't look right....yes it can be seen in nature BUT Brown just says winter to me.....and yes this is me being picky. That beng said I would be proud of the mount as is.

[bmdakk (Bryan)]

Too much snow IMO, X2 on the darker base

[Sikk]

yeah I really struggled with the base, I had walnut under it first, but that hid the black tip of the tail and really muddied up the contrast between the cedar and the moss.plus the snow contrast was too much. I  will stick with the green moss, as where I collect it it stays mostly green all winter, just dormant. another species of the moss is yellow- green , but again that stays yellow during the summer as well. thanks for your input, we will see what the customer thinks.

[Cole]

I think this is what Ross is suggesting:

[Sikk]

oh, misunderstood, yeah that would add a nice contrast to the base, I will stick a piece of walnut or maybe stained ash under it and see what that looks like, thanks guys appreciate the input, paul

[Ross Vogler]

Yes, what Cole did up really looks nice. But that's my opinion.

[Cole]

I agree, I like it better too and it would be relatively easy to do.

[duxrus]

That definitely makes it "POP".............

[M.T.]

The mink looks good, I wish I could see where that other back foot is! Anyways, the wood base does need to be dark, the green moss is perfectly fine, moss here in michigan will sometimes stay green all winter long and whose to say it could be a first snowfall of the season which would be when moss is still green. The icicles suggest a warm day previously to the snowfall. Speaking of the icicles, lose them, get rid of them, they are not properly made so they dont look right. They are also in the wrong places, I'm not quite sure that iciles would even form on that stump from the way it is laying. And even if they did, it makes the presentation too busy, I would take them out. Other than that, it looks pretty good.

[Ross Vogler]

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cwohlers/4499440651/

[M.T.]

Wind can do strange things to icicles, but I would still take them out.

[Sikk]

yeah , I hear you on the ice, but it actually started to curl after it was attached to the habitat. THey are made the way I was taught, a mono line dipped in resin , over and over, and then finished on the mount. I think the heat from the resin caused it to curl on the tip as it dried.
If you would care to explain another method I am all ears, as this way is too time consuming. I would like to mold them , so maybe I could sculpt some and mold and cast them? just not sure my sculpting skill can do it justice. paul

[Ross Vogler]

yeah , I hear you on the ice, but it actually started to curl after it was attached to the habitat. THey are made the way I was taught, a mono line dipped in resin , over and over, and then finished on the mount. I think the heat from the resin caused it to curl on the tip as it dried.
If you would care to explain another method I am all ears, as this way is too time consuming. I would like to mold them , so maybe I could sculpt some and mold and cast them? just not sure my sculpting skill can do it justice. paul

Carrot carving, or clay sculpting...........latex mold, and cast