I just finished a whitetail shoulder mount and in the process of drying the right eye seems to have settled a bit lower than the left. It is just a small amount and no one that has seen it so far has detected it but it is bothering me. I set the eyes in critter clay. Is there a way to rehydrate the eye area and possibly move it a bit or do you think I should leave well enough alone. Thanks for your help. Mike C
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Mike, I would leave well enough alone if you have already let the mount completely dry and painted it. I think you will do more harm trying to fix it and it will become noticeable to others if you make it worse. As far as the eye's not being level, you have to pay close attention each time you set the eyes. Some forms come with eye orbits that are not completely level. I myself have a mount from a couple years ago that I notice one eye is slightly lower than the other. You will always be the first person to notice and dwell on the imperfections. The art of taxidermy can really frustrate you at times. Just do better next time and there will be another area of the mount that draws your attention and drives you crazy. If you ever complete the perfect mount....QUIT. No don't do that just take it to the World Show and WIN! Hope this helps.
What kind of form was it? Jeff F.
It was a Joe Meder. I really dont think it was the form, It looks to me as if I built the brow on one side higher than the other. Like I said its just a little bit but I notice it. I think Five 0 was right I am looking at this through a very critical eye and most people probably wont notice it. Thanks for the help
Mike C
set and sculpt eye with epoxy, once epoxy sets eyes will not move. its carveable after set if you want to improve details.
If your eyes moved during drying it means you did not thin the leather down enough in the eye area. If you thin them down enough and use critter clay, your eye will dry just like you sculpted it. And perhaps you did not turn the lid all the way to the fatty deposits at the base of the lashes.
I had that problem when I first started out, I am at the point now that all I have to do to the eye as far as finish work goes is building the nictating membrane in the corner and airbrushing.