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LuxTaxidermy — First Mammal Mount - American Black Bear

#americanus #craft #curio #curiosities #dead #death #hide #leather #leatherworking #macabre #morbid #oddities #real #recreation #ursa #ursine #ursus #wildlifeart #bear #blackbear #curious #fur #lifesize #mount #pelt #rigid #skin #taxidermy #wildlife
Published: 2016-06-19 08:09:26 +0000 UTC; Views: 8959; Favourites: 43; Downloads: 1
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Description Completed June 2015  (yeah, yeah, i've  taken my time to upload this!)
Lifesize American black bear sow, no base by customer request 

So, here is my very first attempt at mammal taxidermy! Jumped right in the deep end like a lunatic. Much blood, sweat and tears (and wine) went into getting this mount complete, and it gave me every problem you could think of! The form and skin were sold to my client as a package by the son of a taxidermist who had passed away. They were supposedly going to mount it themselves before they passed but... the form was for a large boar, skin was a small-medium sow. Spent weeks cutting and shutting and sanding the damned form until she finally fit! So many tears were shed because of that form. No money to buy a new form, client not willing to pay for a new one... Not great but we got there! On top of that, the pads were very damaged and had to be removed, i sculpted replacements with apoxie. Covered multiple slip spots, replaced 4 missing claws, glued 3 torn-off toes back on, sewed up some huge holes... You get the idea! A mess! 

But here we are after the whole ordeal. I hate photos of me, but i actually kinda like that photo. And im glad i managed to not only finish her, but have a good result too! Im still very proud of her, super happy for my first mammal c: 
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Comments: 27

Valerybmb [2019-06-14 13:51:45 +0000 UTC]

 they are not objects but living beings
                                                as you want to live, they too have the right to live

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SnowPetalMagus [2017-06-30 04:28:49 +0000 UTC]

Silly question, do bears have whiskers?

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LuxTaxidermy In reply to SnowPetalMagus [2017-06-30 09:28:44 +0000 UTC]

Yep, they do! ^_^ 

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SnowPetalMagus In reply to LuxTaxidermy [2017-06-30 19:05:51 +0000 UTC]

Good to know thanks~

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maryssoftmounts [2017-02-12 01:04:08 +0000 UTC]

He looks great and I'm impressed that you got the jaw set seated  so nicely!

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LuxTaxidermy In reply to maryssoftmounts [2017-02-12 01:22:44 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much! I spend a lot of time fussing over my jawsets haha 

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maryssoftmounts In reply to LuxTaxidermy [2017-02-12 02:05:42 +0000 UTC]

Welcomes!

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SpiritOfTheWild [2016-06-30 10:57:44 +0000 UTC]

Wow that is great! And for a first mount!? wow!!! Congratulations!

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LuxTaxidermy In reply to SpiritOfTheWild [2016-07-04 04:24:48 +0000 UTC]

  Thankyou! 

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Braveheart-Taxidermy [2016-06-23 15:34:53 +0000 UTC]

OMG beautiful, I can imagine it takes ages to get it done so nicely.

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LuxTaxidermy In reply to Braveheart-Taxidermy [2016-06-28 08:29:31 +0000 UTC]

This took FOREVER, but it was also my first time! 

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Braveheart-Taxidermy In reply to LuxTaxidermy [2016-06-28 08:57:48 +0000 UTC]

I can imagine, such a big rigit mount is a lot of work. But it is also a blessing when you have some experienced help assisting you ^^

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ToothNClawTaxidermy [2016-06-19 19:23:01 +0000 UTC]

Wow fantastic work, you must be so thrilled especially after all that hide and form put you through to make it fit!

Like you I also just dove into taxidermy, guns ablaze. I've been sculpting my own forms and eyes for a weasel and a groundhog, it's been quite a challenge! Looking forward to using actual forms in the near future.

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LuxTaxidermy In reply to ToothNClawTaxidermy [2016-06-20 12:36:45 +0000 UTC]

Thankyou!! There were some tears of happiness when i finally finished her up, i was mentally and physically exhausted but im happy with how everything turned out  
oh, making your own forms can be really hard! I don't have much natural talent at sculpting, so i struggle through as best i can haha! I've been carcass casting a fair bit lately, theyre turning out better each time  

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galianogangster [2016-06-19 15:02:06 +0000 UTC]

She looks absolutely gorgeous! I love the facial/muzzle expression!

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LuxTaxidermy In reply to galianogangster [2016-06-20 12:34:36 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much!

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EvisceratedUnicorn [2016-06-19 14:55:53 +0000 UTC]

Oh my god, she's beautiful! I especially love that little white splotch on her chest! Fantastic work- I wouldn't have known this was your first mammal if you hadn't stated it!

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LuxTaxidermy In reply to EvisceratedUnicorn [2016-06-20 12:34:26 +0000 UTC]

Aww, thanks so much! I'm flattered I love her double chest star, it was super cute  

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Sambhur [2016-06-19 10:08:41 +0000 UTC]

hahah wow that was quite a job to take on for your first mammal mount, but you really did well with it despite everything that got in your way! that's a great mount, and I'm excited to see your future mammal mounts (: 

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LuxTaxidermy In reply to Sambhur [2016-06-20 12:33:55 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Sambhur! I made it through alive and didnt totally ruin it so win!
More photos coming very soon, im finally getting around to uploading everything ... Can't wait to put up a photo of my most recent work, im soooo excited ; u ; 

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WeaselWomanCreations [2016-06-19 10:04:19 +0000 UTC]

EXCELLENT JOB!!!!!

I understand the pain. I mounted a whole bobcat years back for a guy. Form was too big! Some hair needed replacing (on inner hips of cat). I ended up staying awake so long fixing it up that I got physically sick and puked my soul out. 

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LuxTaxidermy In reply to WeaselWomanCreations [2016-06-20 12:32:28 +0000 UTC]

Sounds like you went through a very similar situation! and it suuuucks. This was definitely worth it though, definitely tested me on all the research i had done beforehand! I was pretty surprised with how much i knew how to do without ever having done it, just because i had been OCD about learning so much before i tried it out hahah 

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MortesHound [2016-06-19 08:40:03 +0000 UTC]

This a beautiful mount! Only one critique (though it could just be the angle of the photo or something, but I'm no expert), the eyes looks a little too far apart. Other then that, I love this, very well done for your first mammal mount, and for it having so many problems

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LuxTaxidermy In reply to MortesHound [2016-06-19 08:47:22 +0000 UTC]

I agree, they may have been slightly too wide. It's part of what i would have liked to change if i could go back, the McKenzies changeout head forms arent quite right but i didnt feel that i had enough experience to mess with the head form : < If i were to do it today i would definitely alter it! The eyes sit pretty close to straight with the ears (nose-eyes-ears should form a triangle from straight on) but i think even a few more millimeters would have made a fair difference to the overall look. Oh well, that was 12 months ago, i've definitely improved since  

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MortesHound In reply to LuxTaxidermy [2016-06-19 18:57:34 +0000 UTC]

Ah, makes sense, and quite understand able why you didn't want to mess with the head form

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DustyVixen [2016-06-19 08:18:13 +0000 UTC]

First?? This is phenomenal for a first mammal mount oh my gOD. 
You are a true wizard hhh

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LuxTaxidermy In reply to DustyVixen [2016-06-19 08:21:49 +0000 UTC]

OH wow, thankyou so much  

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