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[catman]

George,I agree with some of your comments ,however I hold a different philosophy on others.Fame is fleeting I agree, but I will probably compete for some time.Sure I have responsibility but about every five years I dust it off.I certainly am not the best and will never claim to be.I know I don't posses a much greater amount of ability than most.So what is that "magic" you speak of.I'll tell you.It is commitment.The next big shot to come along will need to have the same commitment if they want to maintain a high level for very long.Do you know what year I won my first national title?I struggle every day with not wanting to be a has been.I know some day some young buck will come along and roll me.That's the way it works.I know I' m nothing special and in thirty years few will even remember who I was.But by golly George it's fun to put together something better than you ever have, and have people enjoy it. I also believe my experience and my knowledge are solely mine to give to who I wish.Not public property like you insist.Furthermore if you think anatomy and technology are the only two ingredients that further the art you are missing it.There is one essential component you left out. Since you know everything you should be able to figure it out.

[fishwork]

My favorite determination quote is from the Reverence Robert Shular...he says..."Extraordinary people are ordinary people with an extraordinary amount of determination". I have used this quote alot in teaching both in the Army and in my civilian careers.  I think that extraordinary is not defined by our accomplishments in direct competition with a higher standard or the attainment of public recognition for our accomplishments but rather in what we give back to that which has given so much to us. I have won a few "I love me" awards, but I have never even competed for a National Championship. If I ever do and if I ever manage to win, I will not forget that the victory is only partially mine.

[George Roof]

No, guys, you won't ever convince me "determination" or "committment" have anything to do with "talent".  The most committed and determined person in the world can't do things past the point of his talent.  Committment has nothing to do with the intrinsic ability to "see" what others can't in the big picture.  I've worked with the very best in various fields over the years and the thing that's humbling to me is their actual inability to explain how they get results that LOOK different than mine.

If you didn't see Phil's cougar at the show, you can't appreciate what's now become evident to me.  He has a spectacular talent of capturing a moment in time and he can't even appreciate his ability to do it.  He thinks "anyone" could do what he did if they were committed.  I'm here to tell all of you who don't know better, it ain't happening.

Phil had chosen the "perfect" piece of wood.  A piece that actually didn't have to have a cougar on it to be beautiful.  Then he'd chosen a huge cougar with a heavy winter coat (I did see one single blemish in the right side of the hide, but the hide was certainly primed and exquisite).  The pose itself was that split second picture the mind's eye takes of a treed cougar, spitting venomously with it's muzzle rolled up, its forehead and brow heavily wrinkled until its eyes were half closed, and its lips rolled back to expose huge deadly fangs.  The feet were positioned perfectly at just the exact spot you would envision them with the claws bared and holding into that grizzled piece of cedar log.  When you stood in front of it, you looked into the soul of that cat and you felt its outrage, its anxiety, its fears, and its acceptance of its final fate.  This cat was ALIVE in the mind of the beholder and you waited for it to relax a second and breathe.

Now that's the picture those of us WITHOUT magic in our hands saw.  Those things don't all come together for those of us without that magic.  I could have picked a cedar log that might have been as inspiring, but then there were too many intangibles that I accept my incapability on to be perfected.  I could pay Phil enough to stop doing taxidermy to teach me that technique, but I know that we'd both be wasting our time.  Talent is an inate trait that cannot be passed along.  Otherwise, there wouldn't ever have been any "Great Masters" in the flat art world or any "great inventors" like Franklin, Ford, Edison, or Wright.  How many of you find items and you think to yourself, "That's so simple.  Why didn't I think of that?"  Well, that's why.  Special people have special talent and just too few of them realize they possess it.  They think "anyone could have done that".  The sad truth is that "anyone" seldom if ever DOES.

[*]

Hey George, here's the definition of art from the dictionary, Pay close attenetion to the last 7 words. You are on the right track and hit the nail on the head perfectly with this observation.
"A high quality of conception or execution as found in works of beauty. A specific skill in adept performance, held to require the exercise of intuitive faculties that cannot be learned soley by study."
Some have it, some want it, Not often is a person born with both the Have and the Want.

[Mark V.]

I'm with George on this one. My brother for instance was born with the talent to paint flat art. he can paint mammals and birds to look like a photograph. Now me on the otherhand do the snap together type of taxidermy George speaks of. I can paint fish pretty well to some degree after 27 years of practice but my brothers first wildlife painting puts anything I have done to shame and I'm not kidding. He no longer does any painting and I find it a shame we could never collaborate on projects such as doing backgrounds for fish mounts and such, maybe we could have done some competitions together or maybe someday we can. Maybe I can post a picture of his work on here if I get over to my dads and take one. Its something to be seen and I still marvel at it. As far as taxidermy goes I go with the statement that goes your only as good as your last piece and if it makes you money go with it.,Mark V.

[George Roof]

Welcome back Drew.  I see that rarified air did nothing to get your ego from letting your head get up your ass.  When "real taxidermists" seeing my work start paying my for my leisure time, I'll become more concerned with them.  And since YOU aren't a member of any organizations, tell us who told you your work was so great.

You know, I do have an email address.  You don't have to impress the rest of your sissy friends by posting here on this forum.  You can contact me direct or even call me if you'd like.  But of course, that would take some balls and you're still a capon.

[Jim Tucker]

I am not a member of the NTA. The reason is, I got a bitter taste in my mouth from people like George and the sheep that follow him.

"I'm not gonna vote, it makes no difference"   How can anything change with this attitude?  Get involved people.  We need changes, and the only way is to get involved.  Even if it is as simple as joining and voting.  Don't like Al Holmes?  Vote him out.  Don't like George?  Vote him out.  Think you can do better?  Run.

In all my years as a board member of my state I would say 99.999999999% of moaning and complaining is done by people who do little or nothing to help.  Just a sad fact.  Bitter taste my rear.  Usually a "bitter taste" comes from someone who enters and gets their rear handed to them......when all the time they thought they knew it all.  I have learned something from every taxidermist I ever knew.  I usually learn the most from beginners.  Because they don't know.....they come up with some really original techniques.