I am thinking of offering wholesale turkey work this next spring and would like some opinions on these birds if you don't mind. I have a very thick skin and realize I am opening myself up to some criticism but thats what I want so let fly please. Thanks, here's the addy: http://www.hoosiertaxidermist.com/turkey_taxidermy.html
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I can't criticize at all, work looks pretty darn good. Your website is right up there too, but you could add some text to your homepage to describe/sell your business. So there's my critique!
Jeff that really is a nice site and your turkeys are also nice.
DaveT
Your birds look great...the only thing that i would do is try to back off with the intensity of red. I know that the hunters what the red white and blue heads. And all they want is that red, but i have been softening that up and they look much more natural and the guys are just as happy. I have pictures i show them and they usually like the more natural head. I also have turkeys of my own and they are never just red, red, THer is always a fleshy look to it. Just my 2 cents...but i am sure that your clients are more than happy with your turkeys and i would be too!
Jeff, very nice.. I think you need to tone down the red spay on a light coat of burnt umber. It makes the red darker and not so bright. You should not have a problem doing wholesale work.
Since you've asked, might I give you my PERSONAL OPINION? Your painted heads don't have any transitions and the colors tend to be too stark for my PERSONAL likes.
Now don't get me wrong. I don't like Cally Morris' or Tab Hinton's paint jobs any better. None of them match what I see in my reference pictures and none of them go out on my turkeys. I order the unpainted heads and do them myself.
In my minds eye, I see the caruncles as beef blood and not Alizeran or cadmium red. I see the softer transition from pink to red on the dewlap and the snood has a tinge of blue in with the pink instead of red. I like the powder blue transitioning into the white on the head and I see the blue under the eyes as having a purplish tinge. I usually mist a little lavender flesh on mine to give it a softer contrast. The wrinkles on the back of the neck are too defined for me PERSONALLY. I like the pinks to bleed into the reds in random patterns instead of well defined lines.
Your feather work and placement are exceptional and when I visited your site I thought, "It's a shame the paint has to detract me from such beautiful feather work." So MY OPINION is that you should soften your paints and make softer, smooter transitions into complementary colors. I can't imagine you being able to improve on your mounting techniques or your feather work. They look exceptional.
Very nice work! If you are interested in starting wholesale, your quality is right up there. Feather placement is exceptional and I have to agree with George with the head painting. Lighten it up and you'll be set.
Good luck,
Brady
Thanks for the replies guys. I would probably agree with you on the head colors for competition work and maybe will start to apply these thoughts to my customer pieces, just will take a little more time to paint-time is money you know. Most customers really like my birds but it is good to have the opinions of people that actually know what to look at, not just a pretty bird or head. I am going to be competing for the first time this next spring and will be taking turks , hope it goes well. Once again thanks for your comments.
same thoughts on the paint
on the strutting bird: I would lower the tail and head a tad. check out your reference
stuff looks good!
-brian
I think the main thing is to tone down the paint a bit. If you apply fewer coats, it will look more natural and not at all painted. You want to ackomplish the same with turkeys as you do with fish. Transparency is the key.
Nice work again!
Brady