Mammal of the Month - Sept./Oct. 2018

That's perfect wa the best bobcat. And thank you for posting The Post, I forgot what day it was lately.

 

flawless bobcat. hope joe kish happens to see it. if you remember he didn't know what your talent level was. I think the photo's clearly indicate that. handmade all the way. what more could you ask for in a perfect mount

 

Beautiful job. What taxidermy used to be before all the cookie cutter forms.

 

I'm sure you already know this but that mount is fantastic. Simple but elegant. I love it. I have a personal cat to do and if I can mount even half as good as that I'll be happy. I've been reluctant to mount it for a while, because I couldn't decide on a pose but that one is exactly what I want. Good job.

 

Here is my only mammal this month. Wrapped with home-made head as well. I'm in the process of moving my shop along with my two little helpers learning to walk, so the taxidermy is a bit slow at the moment.

 

I'm embarrassed to say this, but I just mis-posted the following under the topic "gorilla mount": (Please accept my mea culpas)

Museum man,

Yes, I received your email. Thanks for letting me know where that boss gorilla resides - the St. Louis Science Ctn. Too bad it’s held in storage most of the time. I made it a point to visit this forum and discovered that wa certainly can do.

Mr. wa,

There are those that talk the talk, but you sir have shown with this bobcat that you can walk the walk. The exceptional ear-work and eye-set, the perfectly groomed facial ruff and the overall posture are a testament to your mastery of taxidermy and the subject. Photo shoot this specimen in a woodland setting and I doubt one in a hundred would suspect that it’s not a live critter. (Pardon me for previously messing with your handle [icon]).

Ms Cody,

I presume that you are working and learning unassisted by a coach or mentor (someone like wa for instance.) Please correct me if I’m mistaken. At risk of offering unsolicited suggestions, if you’re not working from carcass sketches now, learn to do it soon.* Pose the carcass in the pose you wish to mount the skin and pencil trace around the profile, including legs, feet and head. The sketch will show you the profile exactly lifesize and will act as a template against which you can compare the form you are carving or wrapping. In this way you will avoid the mistake of a poor neck connection such as on your bobcat shown here. Otherwise, the general anatomy, the skin work and grooming on this piece is quite well done. The head is especially good for size, shape and character.

Lastly, that handsome piece of driftwood doesn’t work for this mount. It’s too complex and is more of a distraction than an enhancement.

*See article in Breakthrough Magazine, Issue 118, Summer 2015 “Sketching: The Key to Improving Your Work” by Joe Kish

 

Ive stood quitley behind Joe in his corner in all the other threads. I figured Joe had earned the right to criticize the pig on the stick or any other item. But come on the Bobcat above is awsome and if there is a slight problem in the neck, its not worth mentioning at all. The drift wood Is not a distraction PERIOD. It was made my nature, Gods hands him self. And probably before it was ever picked up by a mans hand. It has had a hoste of critters craw arcoss it at some point in its life cycle.
Im almost certain not a single person including you Joe, if you had that cat in your cross hairs , standing on that log. Would Pass on it because the log was a “ distraction “.

I understand Joe your saying the eyes may be drawn to the wood . Instead of the subject matter at hand. But honestly had you not mentioned the driftwood . I never would a given it a glimps at all. Doubt any one esle wood ( pun intented) either.

 

I feel certain that Cody took Joe's critique as a positive she does very nice work

 

Hey don't worry about me, I was going for the *new deck + truck payment is due* look. "Nailed it"

 

Very nice WA!

 

Alaskan Red Fox

 

beautiful fox rick, very nice

 

I had some serious slip issues with this one, but I thought It came out ok considering

 

Here is my first bobcat

 

great job on your first cat