I have a question that will help us new guys with fish taxidermy. Who are the best fish taxidermists out there for reproductions and skin mounts? I would like to know so I can look at their work to give me inspiration and something to work toward to better my work. Looking at some of the websites most taxidermist's fish don't look too good.
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Anytime you speak of "the best", there's always somebody out there who's better. They just haven't been discovered yet.
As far as SOME of the best, you're best bet is to look through some of the Breakthru Magazines and search this website. There should be plenty of inspiration to be found. But again, there's different styles out there and to deem somone at the very top is a matter of opinion.
As far as bettering your work goes, forget looking at other taxidermists work. There's nothing better than live reference and photos of live fish. Referencing off of other folks' mounts can be a no-no. You may just be repeating their mistakes. Also, I believe you're better off learning from photos and live fish simply because it helps you develop your own style vs. "copying" somebody elses.
Just my opinion...
anyone of the top guys can be best on any given day. Names like Tom Sexton, Jeff Lumsden, Gary Bruch, Jeff Morning, Rich Krane, Mike Ross all come to mind. I doubt anyone could beat Clark Screibeis if he decided to compete.... and on and on it goes. Paul B does some of the best brookies I have seen. There are a lot af great fish guys out there and a lot depends on what you like in a fish mount, kind of like a painting... some like Pacaso, some like Rembrandt, etc...
DaveT
...that there's a few out there that have never been discovered as well. I too know somebody that could give most of these guys a run for their money if he wanted to. He could care less about competitions as well. Bottom line is yes these folks can be encouraging but you should be looking at photos or live fish if you wish to do things right...
The best fish taxidermist is.......The one YOU think duplicates a live fish the best. Personally, I look to my inspiration from God's handy work--no one does it better.
We can only try our best to copy His creation.
As far as inspiration and bettering your work goes, Rick Krane and i were haveing breakfast just last week, when he said it best.Take what you consider to be your best mount fishing and hold it next to a freshly caught fish.I realized,instantly, how humbeling it would be.We as taxidermists,can only attempt to re-create fish/game as acurately as possible."the Best",at its finest, is still just an illusion.
Why are you people talking about fishing in the first place anyway?I think fisking is really boring and i like sports.
Especially the highly intelligent Bob. You gave me some nice input and ideas, but all artists, be it a wildlife artist, a musician or other performance artist will have older, wiser, more experienced artists that they will watch and follow at first, more as a guide, to get started, but then as you learn, you will branch out and start doing your own work and style and usually improve on that quality of work that inspired you in the first place.
That is the classical way of gaining an Art degree. BUT, by studying others work can also lead to HINDERING your own style as well. Enevitably you end up mimicking another artists styles whether you realize it or not. I went around in circles with my profs with this very argument. All of them recognized my point and some even agreed with me! (I believe the ones that didn't agree were the ones TEACHING Art History and they feared their job was on the line - LOL!)
Much like any form of teaching, it is not a science. Just theories on the proper approach. Quite frankly, I thought my Art History courses were a total waste of time. My money would have been better spent taking another Art course or two. Just my opinion...
Wa State web pages ,the name is Dave Campbell/Campbellfish
Very Good