Changes of a whitetail, a collective artists piece by Nina & Josh K

Nina Lukaszewicz · Mar 6, 2011

Since last year's PA show, Josh Kenaston and I had been talking about working on a collective artist's piece. Here it is now and how it came to be, a pictorial of the process.

In August 2010 I went on a crop damage (red tag) hunt and took a nice doe with a beautiful summer cape. skinned and saved it for the freezer, but had no idea what I would do with it. The idea didn't click until I got another mature doe during opening week of Archery season in October. I later got the last doe, a long haired November deer, in West Virginia's rifle season and had all three capes we needed to do a piece with the concept of a whitetail's seasonal transitions.

The original concept sketch, very rough:

The refined sketch:

Josh made the base from old barnwood. The rustic nature of the wood seemed to fit the concept much better than something polished and smooth.

We decided later that we would do a little alteration on the forms to make it more unique, and enhance the composition. The top form's head was tilted up, the middle one stayed stock, and the bottom form came as a standing half lifesize, altered into a laying down pose with an additional tilting down of the head.

The ground and rocks were built up with foam pieces my Dad brought home from work, which were saved from shipping boxes. All ground cover and rocks were formed using Nicholas Lindsay mache (mud mix and rock mix). A shallow stream was made down the middle using Envirotex. The leaves are all silks, but the weeds at the top winter scene were taken from one of my hunting areas because I could not find a convincing replacement for them. I bought icicles from Lynchman on the forums, and a real dried butterfly for the bottom of the base that would sit by the quote engraving embedded into the rock "Change is the essence of life" (Since butterflies are a symbol of change).

Winter doe mounted by Josh

We were very honored to receive First Place Collective Artists and the Perry Klein memorial award this weekend at the 2011 PTA Show!!!!!!

RDA · Mar 6, 2011

Very nice! Congrats!

UnzippedZebra · Mar 6, 2011

Very awesome! Congrats as well I wish I could've been there this weekend to see it in person.

dsbragg · Mar 6, 2011

Nice idea and piece!

SeanS · Mar 6, 2011

Awesome work! Looks very nice!

Ron C. · Mar 6, 2011

Great concept and beautiful piece. Congrats to both of you.

bobcat071 · Mar 6, 2011

Very beautiful !!!!Congrats!!!

RoyalOaksRanch · Mar 6, 2011

Congratulations!! Awesome piece You both did great

GreenBullhead · Mar 6, 2011

;D ;D CONGRATS AGAAAIN!

And it was nice meeting you too. Wish I could've stayed longer

psycho · Mar 6, 2011

Good job you two! Congrats 8)

ccook63 · Mar 6, 2011

The future of taxidermy looks very bright with the talents of you both in the industry. Congrats, keep up the good work.

michael p. · Mar 6, 2011

Nina, I hate to sound "sappy', but I just have to tell you this. We here, your family on the Taxidermy.net have seen you grow from literally a kid into a young lady. It's like we have (well we pretty much have) seen you grow up in front of us and we are so proud of you. You are our family and speaking of family, it is always so nice to see your family there at the PTA show supporting their daughter, sister, grand daughter.

You are so loved not only by your real family, but also your Taxidermy family....we are all so proud of you.

Josh, you are an incredible young man. Most men your age do not have the manners, poise and professionalism you posses. I know I did not at your age and still do not at 40. Young man, you are a real role model. You are yourself and you are simply put a darn good young man!

You 2 keep it up, there is nothing together or individually you cannot achieve.

djcostlow · Mar 6, 2011

Congrats to both of you, beautiful piece. Some very kind words Michael. You both should be very proud.
Dennis

whitetail94 · Mar 6, 2011

Awesome piece, congrats to you both.

Bangle · Mar 6, 2011

Great composition, you both did a great job!

coonhollow · Mar 6, 2011

congrats to the two of you! and Nina thank you, it was nice talking to you at the show.

skinner26 · Mar 7, 2011

Very very nice

Bucknut · Mar 7, 2011

Congrats Josh and Nina - neat idea. And Nina - you kicked some butt in PA this weekend!

Bruce

bmdakk · Mar 7, 2011

BEAUTIFUL PIECE!!!!!! Great Job, Congratulations!!!!!!!

tomdes · Mar 7, 2011

Great piece Nina, X2 what MP said...

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Changes of a whitetail, a collective artists piece by Nina & Josh K

Nina Lukaszewicz Outdoor Dreams Taxidermy

RDA Well-Known Member

UnzippedZebra New Member

dsbragg New Member

SeanS New Member

Ron C. Member

bobcat071 Just hangn with buds!!

RoyalOaksRanch Royal Oaks Taxidermy- When Quality Counts...

GreenBullhead Peep peeep peep C:

psycho 2011 WORLD CHAMPIONS!

ccook63 New Member

michael p. Getting better with age :)

djcostlow Member

whitetail94 New Member

Bangle New Member

coonhollow Active Member

skinner26 Active Member

Bucknut 176 5/8

bmdakk Report to moderator

tomdes Me my dear and Fall BAZZ!!!