The 2012 convention season has come to a close, and the results are in! To me, the most compelling part of each competition is when all of the judges get together collectively pick what they feel is the most artistic entry in the entire show. I have been in on many of these lively discussions and the judges always make it a point to give a great deal of thought and consideration to fairly choose the entry they feel is most deserving of this prestigious award.
The WASCO Most Artistic Entry Award is presented to the most artistic piece in a taxidermy competition. The winner is chosen collectively by all of the judges from the entire competition. WASCO Award winners receive a polished acrylic award and a gift certificate from WASCO (Wildlife Artist Supply Company).
The winning entries were chosen by the following criteria:
1. Exhibition of Taxidermy. The entry should tastefully display both the subject as well as the taxidermy profession in a favorable light. The taxidermy should be of good competition caliber, without any obvious flaws to the casual observer. The close scrutiny of a judge’s flashlight should not be as important as the overall impression of the piece from a normal viewing distance. The main requirement is that the animal portrayed looks “alive” to the viewer.
2. Creativity. Artists who try something new or difficult should be rewarded for their efforts. The concept of the piece should not copy previous winner’s ideas. Original ideas, successfully executed, should be given high consideration for this award.
3. Artistic Merit. The entry should be judged as a three-dimensional art piece, just like a painting or fine sculpture. Basic art concepts, such as composition, color, dynamic impact, contrast, texture, negative and positive space, and general artistic appeal should be carefully considered.
I am pleased that McKenzie has decided to continue to support the WASCO Award, which for the past 19 years has honored taxidermists who took risks and inspired us with their creativity. Our congratulations go out to the talented 2012 winners of the WASCO Award for the Most Artistic Entry, which are listed below.
The 2012 WASCO Award Winners Listed in date order
Leon Matthews, Pasco, WA
Wood Duck
January 14, 2012, United Taxidermists Association
Dan Blackstone, Sarasota, FL
Reproduction Bass
February 2, 2012, Florida State Taxidermists Association
Allen Burril, Nampa, ID
Crow, Fish & Black Bear Head
February 11, 2012, Utah Taxidermist Association
Chris Horne, Mount Joy, PA
Mandarin Duck
February 12, 2012, Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show
Chris Couch, Bardstown, KY
Whitetail Deer
February 12, 2012, National Wild Turkey Federation
Reproduction Piranha by Zachary Pennington.
Zachary Pennington, Camden, AR
Reproduction Piranha
February 18, 2012, Arkansas Taxidermists Association
Randy Bell, Reform, AL
Silver Fox
February 25, 2012, Georgia Taxidermist Association
Brett Wingfield, Spirit Lake, IA
Smallmouth Bass
February 25, 2012, Wisconsin Taxidermists Association
Blue Goose by Brice Wangler.
Brice Wangler, Centralia, IL
Blue Goose
March 3, 2012, Illinois Taxidermist Association
Dennis Wessner, Tower City, PA
Whitetail Deer
March 3, 2012, Pennsylvania Taxidermist Association
Martin Bess, Cherryville, NC
Mallard Drake
March 3, 2012, South Carolina Association of Taxidermists
Don Cameron, Janesville, CA
Cutthroat Trout
March 11, 2012, California Association of Taxidermists
Andrew Faul, Tappen, ND
Whitetail Deer
March 11, 2012, North Dakota Taxidermy Association
Brian Cassidy, Fithian, IL
Pintail Group
March 11, 2012, Association of Indiana Taxidermists
Purple Gallinule by Diana Givens.
Diana Givens, Stuttgart, AR
Purple Gallinule
March 11, 2012, Southern Regional Taxidermy Convention
Kevin Hastings, Cherryville, NC
Shoveler
March 17, 2012, Virginia Taxidermists Association
Willow Ptarmagin by Perry Coleman.
Perry Coleman, Ft. Thompson, SD
Willow Ptarmagin
March 18, 2012, South Dakota Taxidermy Association
Carolin Brak-Dolny, Frankford, ON
Red Fox
March 18, 2012, Michigan Taxidermist Association
Katie Rogers, Black Eagle, MT
Caribou
March 24, 2012, Montana Taxidermists Association
Matt Smith , Fort Smith, TX
Wood Duck
March 25, 2012, Kansas Association of Taxidermists
Michelle Bowen, Tijeras, NM
Porcupine
March 25, 2012, New Mexico Taxidermy Association
Mike Nakielski, Iron Ridge, WI
Wood Duck
April 1, 2012, Iowa Taxidermy Association
Steve Jandreau, Portage, ME
Bobcat Family
April 1, 2012, Maine Chapter of the National Taxidermy Association
Greg Pallauf, Oregon, OH
Canvasback
April 1, 2012, Ohio State Taxidermy Championships
Drew Jacobosen, Annandale, MN
Sunfish
April 14, 2012, Minnesota Taxidermy Guild
Fred Barilla, Carle Place, NY
Whitetail Deer
April 14, 2012, United Taxidermists of New York
Chris Horne, Mt. Joy, PA
Whitetail Deer
April 14, 2012, West Virginia Taxidermy Association
Randy Bell, Reform, AL
Whitetail Deer
April 14, 2012, Mississippi State Taxidermy Association
Gary Bessler, Buffalo, WY
Pronghorn Antelope
April 28, 2012, Wyoming Association of Taxidermy Artists
Brandon Zahn, Boling, TX
Blue Geese
May 5, 2012, Louisiana Taxidermist Association
Gerald Blackwelder, Montrose, CO
King Eider Group
May 19, 2012, Colorado State Taxidermy Championships
Mark Benfield, Lincolnton, NC
Wood Duck
May 19, 2012, Surry Taxidermy Mini-Course Competition & Trade Show
Royal Robillard, Gatineau, QC
Largemouth Bass
May 20, 2012, L’association des Taxidermistes du Québec
Blue Wildebeest by Troy Hall.
Troy Hall, Cheyenne, WY
Blue Wildebeest
June 2, 2012, Nebraska State Taxidermists Association
Brian Brew, Nashville, TN
Harlequin Drake
June 2, 2012, Tennessee Taxidermists Association
Canvasback Group by Tony Finazzo.
Tony Finazzo, San Bernardino, CA
Canvasback Group
June 9, 2012, Arizona Taxidermy Artists Association
Dale Manning, Missoula, MT
Steller’s Eider
June 9, 2012, Idaho Taxidermists Association
Brown Trout by Brian Noody.
Brian Noody, Garden City, NY
Brown Trout
June 9, 2012, New England Association of Taxidermists
Russell Karnes, Wagoner, OK
Shoveler
June 15, 2012, Oklahoma Taxidermists Association
Korey Alleman, Breaux Bridge, LA
Snow Goose
June 16, 2012, Alabama Taxidermists Association
Chris Armstrong, Hastings, ON
Largemouth Bass
June 24, 2012, Canadian Taxidermists Association
Dave Campbell, Tacoma, WA, Tacoma, WA
Rainbow Trout
June 30, 2012, Oregon Association of Taxidermists
Troy Hall, Cheyenne, WY
Blue Wildebeest
June 30, 2012, Texas Taxidermy Association
Gary King, Middleton, NY
Black Duck
July 14, 2012, Garden State Taxidermy Association
Wild Turkey by Andy Campbell.
Andy Campbell, Wyandotte, OK
Wild Turkey
July 21, 2012, National Taxidermists Association
Brian Banbury, Perrysville, OH
Eider Group
July 29, 2012, Maryland Taxidermy Association
Kurt Ainsworth, Independence, KY
Whitetail Doe
July 29, 2012, Kentucky Taxidermy Association
Mike Brittain, Hickory, NC
Bluegill
August 4, 2012, North Carolina Taxidermists Association
Cindy Cunningham, Kansas City, KS
Black Bear
August 5, 2012, Missouri Taxidermists Association