I would like to know if a person can actually expect to get started by using any of the how-to videos or books that are out there, and more or less learn on his own, rather than being "trained", and if so, does anybody have any recommendations?
I was also wondering if taxidermy demands alot of artistic talent, or if it is more a matter of know how, and learned skill.
Any helpful input would be greatly appreciated.
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CW, Oh how I wish there had been videos back when I started! Of course you can start out on videos and books--many of us began with MUCH less and somehow learned enough to stay with it. Any methods you use to start out will be better than trying to figure stuff out on your own but if you decide to stick with it locate your state taxidermy association for information on learning opportunities in your state (assuming you live in the states). As for artistic tallent-- I believe the very best taxidermists are those that see things a little differently than most. Like a great painter sees more than I do when we look at the same thing but I also think that most of us can learn to see details that we at first overlook and in that way become more "artistic". Taxidermy tallent is developed over time and few people achive much realism without a lot of practice. The skills of the craft are pretty much straight forward. Real quality taxidermy takes lots of time and patience and study of anatomy. Top quality reference materials are a must for getting the details of a mount close to right-and close is all most of us will get. Setting out to duplicate the beauty of a living animal is a tall order but the challenge of doing it can be ever so much fun. As for doing it for a living-if that's in your mind-I wouldn't expect to get rich no matter what way you learn. Good luck, Aaron H.
when I started this is all there was, a coraspondance course and a few old hardbacks that were way out of published date.
One issue of Breakthrough has more useful info. than the whole section on mounting birds had back then.
It is my opinion that todays knowledge is much better and the videos can show you a lot. But you have to decide.
Stinking Compaq computer.
No seriously The Breakthrough MANUALS are top notch! Jonas did have some back in the day that were very good also, I would recommend the Jonas Gamehead book as it does have some methods in it that will help you down the road. I still refer to mine from time to time.
If I were starting out today, I would get the Breakthrough books, subscriptions to Breakthrough and Taxidermy Today. Use these for a year mount everything in sight. THen start going to competitions! The competitions will put your mounting skills at higher levels and you can never get enough critques. These critques will help you fine tune your work.
Then if you feel the need for advanced workshops you can invest that school tuition money in workshops. You make the decision. One thing get your academic education first, before ever deciding that taxidermy is a job for a life time.
Taxidermy has one big fault, that being many of us were never good academicly, but many of whom failed in academics are gifted with artistic skills. This leads to a low price charged for mounted items and stuggling business wise, because we dont know profit from wages and cannot really figure the bottom line. We know little about the world of business.
In fact out State Taxidermy assoc. should be having successful business persons come in and do lectures, cost x wage x production. Big blank areas with a lot of taxidermist.
Good luck and feel free to e-mail me any questions.
tyhe beginner videos from WASCO are top notch - learned bass mounting from them and am doing very realistic mounts in 7 mounts - i have stripped and painted these 7 a bunch - painting is a little harder to learn - it is an acquired skill but it isnt hard to acquire - paint 30 bass and you are on your way - i think hunters or people who see the game first hand are much better than non hunters - i notice all my poses (on animals) are better than most of the experienced taxidermists - i think my eye for the wild (from having been there) has just developed on a diferent level
Artistic talent is something that is developed with the use of skills, books and video's are part of the proscess of feedin the brain. Breakthrough Manuals are Fantastic along with the seminars tapes you have a great start. attending shows and and a school enhaches also, but the trade of taxidermy is a Art and to be good it must be developed which also includes the hands on approach.the more you do the better they get learning from mistakes a book or video cannot teach you.
Go for it and don't get dicouraged.
how you learn is up to you, I started out about 2 months ago. started out with fish because I think its tougher to learn. I agree that the Breakthrough manuals are the best. Its realitivly inexpensive to get started, and most of your cost will be one time purchases. WASCO has a few starter kits to try your first squirrel or bass, and its a real good way to get started. their videos cover the basics, but it dosnt go into enough detail on what if's. bob elsner does the bass video, and he covers how to go step by step, but he says be careful not to break through the skin, but dosnt tell you how to fix it if you do. he makes it look alot easier than it is, but thats part of doing it as long as he has. the Breakthrough manual tells you more info on how to fix problems, and covers all types of fish. really good info. good luck on your quest