Hello Everyone,
Please critique my first ever attempt at taxidermy. A whitetail shoulder mount.
Please be honest. I know there are some problems with the ears, eyes, and tear
duct but I REALLY want to know what every one thinks, tips for improvement,
overall impression, etc. Don't worry about hurting my feelings, I think it
looks pretty good for a first timer so I am proud of it. SO.... Please critique
away. I am going to try to imbed the images in the post. If this does not work,
just type the link in your browser. Thanks, Mark
<img src=http://www.one-eleven.net/~mroberts/TaxidermyStuff/Deer1.jpg>
<img src=http://www.one-eleven.net/~mroberts/TaxidermyStuff/Deer2.jpg>
<img src=http://www.one-eleven.net/~mroberts/TaxidermyStuff/Deer3.jpg>
<img src=http://www.one-eleven.net/~mroberts/TaxidermyStuff/Deer4.jpg>
<img src=http://www.one-eleven.net/~mroberts/TaxidermyStuff/Deer5.jpg>
<img src=http://www.one-eleven.net/~mroberts/TaxidermyStuff/Deer6.jpg>
<img src=http://www.one-eleven.net/~mroberts/TaxidermyStuff/Deer7.jpg>
<img src=http://www.one-eleven.net/~mroberts/TaxidermyStuff/Deer8.jpg>
Return to Deer Taxidermy Category Menu
It looks like the embedding did not work. To get the pictures, open the
following link in a new browser window.
http://www.one-eleven.net/~mroberts/TaxidermyStuff/Deer1.jpg
Change the numbers on the end from 1-8 and you should get there okay. I have also
created a folder in the yahoo Taxichat group so if you are a member there, you
will be able to see the pictures.
Thanks, Mark
While I am not a qualified judge, I can tell you that I've seen deer that were done by "full-time" taxidermists that were not as good as your first attempt. As far as a critique, here are a couple of tips for you. Compare your mount to pictures of mounted deer in Taxidermy Supply catalogs such as McKenzie, Ben Mears, Coombs, etc. Some people may say to use only live reference photos, but I can tell you that I've seen pictures of live deer that if you were to use as reference, you would end up with one sad looking mount. Sometimes nature is cruel to animals, too. Secondly, join your state's taxidermy association and enter their competitions. I can't speak for other states, but as for Arkansas, the judges and fellow members are very courteous in helping one to improve upon their skills. Hope this helps. Most of all, have fun.
Don't enter to win. Enter to learn. The judge will go over it and explain your strong points and weak points. Best investment you can make!
As being your first, it looks like you are off to a good start. You just need to do some 'fine tuning,' which the seminars and judge(s) can help you with.
And as said above, use reference to look at the shape of the eye, the anatomy of the ear butts, etc. Oh, and when the bottom edge of the ear extends out farther than the top, I heard a judge call those 'water catchers.' You can see what I mean in the pic from the top of your deer's head. If it was raining, the water would hit on the lower edge and funnel right into his ear openings.
Keep up the good work! You are definitely off to a good start and have come to the right place to gain pointers! =)
I'm not an expert, nor a judge, but here are a few things that catch my eye as needing a bit of work:
1. I'm not sure if it's a case of not enough clay on the upper eye structure, but looking at your deer from the front, it takes on the shape of a "tubular" head. My deer heads have done this before also and building up the eyes with more clay has helped. Any experts have thoughts on this?
2. Your ear butts need more clay to fill out the muscle structure.
3. Your nose looks dehydrated. Use the search button to get info on Modge Podge to put some life back into the nose.
In all honesty, it looks great for a first effort. Please don't take my critique as anything more than helpful...I could send you pictures of early mounts I did that look 10-times worse!
Good luck.
Abe
Mark,
I still have the first deer I mounted and it looks pretty good as long as you don't put it beside what I mount now.
Keep at it and someday you'll look back and smile at this one
Mark, Looks better than my first. Couple of things, your upper eye lid crease should extend all the way down to the corner of the eye, it thins in front of the eye but extends all the way. Good reference will help you there. Also as AE said your ear butts are way to small, the ears are to close tip to tip makes them look stunted. I don't know what form you used but I would always recommend McKenzie, I used some from Van Dykes when I started and they don't even compare with the realism and detail of McKenzie. Always customer pleasing results. As in anything start with a good foundation and it will improve the end result.