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Zhon — Taxidermy Wolf Tutorial - Pt.5

Published: 2008-11-11 02:13:41 +0000 UTC; Views: 34319; Favourites: 303; Downloads: 662
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Description 48.) Get some Magic Sculpt Epoxy clay and mix it up 50/50 until it is uniform in colour. I like to use brown, because if you scuff it... it's STILL brown!!! Remove all cardboard carding from the face.

49.) Putty up the lower lip anywhere you see fit. Fill in any holes, and blend all seams/crevices.

50.) Texture the lip. I tend to make a series of lumps and dimples. Take a washcloth and press it to the wet Sculpt to get a nice texture, then you can make various imprints with a knife or toothpick to make those lip creases.

51.) Putty up the upper lip.

52.) Repeat your textures. Be sure to clean off all the teeth so they are free of Sculpt. The Magic Sculpt will cure in about an hour (2 if you mixed it funny)

53.) Putty any holes in the nose and inside the nostrils. When this dries it will give the nose a nice rigid structure.

54.) With your airbrush (or if you are good with a paintbrush) and acrylic/latex paints; mist the lower lip with a brown, and then haze it with black. The brown will be an undertone, and show vibrantly after a coat of gloss is applied.

55.) Do the same with the nose. Dark brown with a mist of black. If you want you could make the deepest part of the nose pink-ish. Each wolf is different.

56.) With a Jet Black, mist the eyes.

NOTE: Overspray is OK! It rubs out of the fur.

57.) Mist the inside of the ears with a light brown or dark brown. It's optional to make the deepest part of the ear slightly pink.

58.) Overall, this is what your wolf will look like. Scary goth wolf.

59.) While the paint dries, you can apply a nice inlay of foam, leather, or whatever to pad the inside dome of the "helmet"

60.) Mist your tongue down the center with a rich brown. This tones down the factory-made hot-pink look of the plastic tongue. Adds a slight bit of realism and highlights the high points of the tongue lumps.

61.) With a clear vulcanizing rubber cement (Taxidermists use Jaw Juice, but the common brand would be Shoe Goo, found in the shoe department to glue in soles) Spread a generous amount to the bottom of the tongue.

62.) Carefully lay the tongue inside the mouth and leave it to dry. Jaw Juice dries a shiny clear, so it can also be used to fabricate fake drool.

63.) When your paint is dry, start scraping the paint off the glass of the eyes. Be very careful around the rims so you don't scratch the paint off the skin/leather.

64.) Photo of the eyes cleared. Still looks like an overly make-up'ed wolf.

65.) Photo of half the face cleaned up. Clean up the fur by rubbing the hair with a piece of felt or suede. Those fabrics grab paint really well and will easily buff the paint from the hair.

66.) A fully cleaned wolf. After the paint is cleared from the fur, you can apply a spray GLOSS to the nose, in th mouth, and around the rims of the eyes to add a shiny lifelike glisten to those areas.

67.) a.b.c. )) Jet-puff your wolf with a hairdryer, preen the fur to how you like, and you are ready to display it, show it off, or whatever you wish!!!

I hope you have Enjoyed this Tutorial. Any questions you have on loop holes, missing info or how things are done, feel free to ask!
__________________________________
Disclaimer: I did not hunt this wolf. It came to me already tanned from a fellow taxidermist (who didn't hunt it either). I bought it from him and am building this costume/rug for a friend of mine. This wolf came from Canada (NOT Alaska) and was imported with all Federally Legal paperwork!
Therefore the skin was not from a poached animal. All of my skins are legally obtained from taxidermy facilities or licensed hunters I speak with personally.

SO DON'T LEAVE MEAN COMMENTS!

For God's Sake! Only STUPID people leave comments on things they Hate!!!!

For all you who love learning the art of taxidermy...
ENJOY!
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Comments: 131

StormRiverLove [2013-10-09 21:23:48 +0000 UTC]

Lol Jaw Juice

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SinisterPinkles [2013-08-06 05:29:47 +0000 UTC]

The thing I like most about taxidermy is that the animals don't move when you're trying to draw them.

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Zhon In reply to SinisterPinkles [2013-08-21 04:08:38 +0000 UTC]

LOL! That is very true!

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kaileymiller [2013-04-22 01:06:42 +0000 UTC]

THIS IS THE ONLY TAXIDERMY TUTORIAL ON DA AND THE INTERNET. THANK YOU!

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Zhon In reply to kaileymiller [2013-04-24 03:43:39 +0000 UTC]

You are very welcome!
I know some artists dont want to give out their secrets, but in my case, everyone learns differently! What may be a secret to someone, the other might already know!

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kaileymiller In reply to Zhon [2013-04-25 02:30:52 +0000 UTC]

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Zerrinah [2013-04-16 02:03:09 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful, beautiful job. This tutorial is very handy, thank you.

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Zhon In reply to Zerrinah [2013-04-24 03:43:53 +0000 UTC]

You are very welcome!

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ZiraSeishin [2013-02-28 03:55:08 +0000 UTC]

wow this is really an awesome tutorial!! definitely will be useful for my first mount.

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Zhon In reply to ZiraSeishin [2013-04-24 03:44:16 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! And if you use it on your first mount, let me know how it goes!!

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Little-colibri [2012-06-15 16:53:53 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for your tutorial, it allows me to discover more about taxidermy. Your work is outstanding!

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Zhon In reply to Little-colibri [2012-06-16 03:03:03 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! Glad to be able to help you!

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animegirlffx [2012-05-28 04:30:10 +0000 UTC]

Very cool^^

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DiamondDustTaxidermy [2011-12-21 02:04:19 +0000 UTC]

Your work is beautiful and you're really an inspiration to me. Wish I could go to school for this stuff!

Can't wait to see some more wolves from you.

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Zhon In reply to DiamondDustTaxidermy [2011-12-21 03:46:27 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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RinniMinni [2011-12-11 18:29:20 +0000 UTC]

it looks like it's smiling :3

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Zhon In reply to RinniMinni [2011-12-12 06:03:38 +0000 UTC]

Haha! he does!

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nasenblutennn [2011-11-20 08:18:12 +0000 UTC]

I found this so helpful and documented so thoroughly.
It's nice to see taxidermy displayed as an art form and a lot more structure than the animal itself, than I had previously been skeeved out by. It was an all around pleasant learning experience and it made me desire to try it.

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Zhon In reply to nasenblutennn [2011-11-20 17:09:18 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!
I do strive to try and teach everyone that it's not about slapping a skin on a mannikin, but moreso the sculpting involved to make an animal look real.
If you do try your hand at taxidermy, feel free to ask any questions that may pop up along the way!

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nasenblutennn In reply to Zhon [2011-11-20 20:51:45 +0000 UTC]

I will most definitely ask.
Thanks so much, again!

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CheezayBallz [2011-09-16 13:11:13 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful work, but it seems that his eyes ar too close together.

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Zhon In reply to CheezayBallz [2011-09-16 13:16:18 +0000 UTC]

His eyes arent tilted to the side like how they are normally. The distance is about correct when calipered next to my wolf skull. But the eyes do look in, sortof like how a human's eyes would be.
But I do know what you are saying, and I hope to have fixed that issue in my most recent wolf costume.

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themac1996 [2011-08-06 20:24:21 +0000 UTC]

I was like
but than I was like D:L

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wolvenlied [2011-07-17 17:40:23 +0000 UTC]

This kind of grosses me out though it has satisfied my curiosity how people make taxidermy animals. I was looking for tutorials for sculpting (non-taxidermy) animals and I found your sculpting of the mouth and nose helpful to add details.

Glad the wolf wasn't poached still I'd rather see a real one ^^ It's nice to know there are responsible taxidermists out there.

Did you have to study to be a taxidermist or did you just try until you got good at it?
Just curious

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Zhon In reply to wolvenlied [2011-07-18 12:49:42 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!
Sculpting is the basis for taxidermy. We need to understand the anatomy of an animal and get the form to look muscularly and anatomically correct before putting a skin over it.
I, personally, went to a 8-month taxidermy school to learn what I do, but I understand most taxidermists out there learn by books and videos and just try it out until they get good.

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Valentiness [2011-07-15 17:56:18 +0000 UTC]

Is that a real wolf..?
sorry if you said so already. o.o

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TrixiMcGee [2011-06-17 06:15:46 +0000 UTC]

Awesome! I am so excited to start my first project - your tutorial will be a great help!

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Zhon In reply to TrixiMcGee [2011-06-20 05:05:01 +0000 UTC]

You are very welcome!

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NinjaMarshMellow [2011-06-09 00:20:42 +0000 UTC]

i wanna buy one so bad it is awsome!!

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Zhon In reply to NinjaMarshMellow [2011-06-11 23:20:30 +0000 UTC]

I should have a black one and a white one done in time for halloween!

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NinjaMarshMellow In reply to Zhon [2011-06-12 03:07:59 +0000 UTC]

ya i wanted one last year but i would love to buy one they look awesome!! I love wolfs

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lrignafemina [2011-02-01 23:00:12 +0000 UTC]

I have no clues why this showed up on a search for "princess seam tutorials" but it was facinating to read.

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Zhon In reply to lrignafemina [2011-02-02 04:29:28 +0000 UTC]

LOL! That is odd!

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PrinceofPride [2011-01-19 00:51:49 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad you made a tutorial on this! It's very helpful! I want to thank you so much for making this, so happy I managed to find something like this. I'm interested in trying out taxidermy myself, mostly soft mount taxidermy. I would really like to make myself a wolf since they are my favorite animals, but it seems a little too big for a first try. Maybe I should start out with something smaller, like a fox...Is taxidermy really hard on a first try or is it something that's easy to get used to?

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Zhon In reply to PrinceofPride [2011-01-26 05:42:54 +0000 UTC]

You are very welcome!
And as a beginner animal, I'd suggest a squirrel or rabbit. Something easy, small, and cheap (that way if you screw up it isn't as bad as messing up a $150-300 fox!) OR....I know Minotaur-Queen sells coyote capes for $40-ish. Perhaps a pedestal would be the way to go if you like canines!
But really it's all about using reference photos, and projecting how you see the animal. Excellence comes with lots of experience!
Best of luck!

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syclopskitten [2011-01-16 02:36:04 +0000 UTC]

woah! I thought it was a real wolf at first!

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bf5kid In reply to syclopskitten [2016-08-29 00:23:30 +0000 UTC]

It is just the pelt

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RoxiRider [2011-01-09 18:15:29 +0000 UTC]

Just out of curiosity, are most animals used for taxidermy killed for this purpose or do they die a natural death (or killed for some other purpose)? I just don't know much about this, so I'm wondering. It's cool looking, though.

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Zhon In reply to RoxiRider [2011-01-10 05:25:49 +0000 UTC]

Most animals brought into the studio are from hunters that take the pelt, as well as the meat. Get the meat processed and get the skin preserved for a memory-keepsake. Some trophy hunters will kill just for the horns/pelt. Most of my personal stuff I find on the road and salvage, and occassionally get stuff from farmers or off ebay.

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TransguyBlu [2010-12-09 05:52:10 +0000 UTC]

beauty I must say -hope it died fast- though such wounderful work you do!

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Zhon In reply to TransguyBlu [2010-12-09 13:58:06 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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TransguyBlu In reply to Zhon [2010-12-09 14:47:25 +0000 UTC]

np

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Killslay-steelclaw [2010-12-07 23:50:38 +0000 UTC]

dear Zhon

i want to thank you from the depths of my heart for creating this tutorial. so many taxidermists refuse to do anything like this, to this detail, and i can understand that they do not want every tom, dick or harry copying them. but sometimes things like this are needed, because how can they expect anyone to learn otherwise. i work in both sculptural and flat art forms, and recently have started using some taxidermy techniques in my work, along with pelts and adapting taxidermy techniques with my artistic knowledge. i am about to embark on my first full taxidermy piece, a soft mounted rabbit. i know some would say that soft mounting is a bad place start, and that it is not as highly thought of, but i have a long background in fabrication and structuring faux fur plushies, and general sewing, so i feel that soft mounting is the best place for me to start as i can adapt my knowledge of the practices i already know. this 5 part tutorial is one of the most amazing resources avaliable for anyone wanting to try out any type of taxidermy, and the small pointers, like how to make home made hide paste, is truely a good thing, especially for people who may not be able to afford expensive taxidermy supplies.

while doing my research i came across people who were very unwilling to help, saying that doing research is the way to learn, not through asking/looking for tutorials. however, as i have discovered as have many others i expect, it is hard to find this research. what you do with this tutorial is amazing, and gives others hope that they may be able to finally learn about this wonderful artform.

so thank you, and i shall be recommending this tutorial as my first suggestion for a daily deviation, to show its true and invaluble worth.

thank you,

your loyal watcher and supporter, Killslay

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Zhon In reply to Killslay-steelclaw [2010-12-08 14:04:45 +0000 UTC]

Wow! Thank you! (best comment I got on this!)

I know tons of other taxidermists are unwilling to share their knowledge because they fear someone else will become better than them. To me, sharing my own techniques doesn't make me feel like I'm giving away my knowledge, but extending the offer to learn for those who are not as advanced (and granted there's way more people out there who do much better work!)
A lot of people asked me that if I went to a $25k school to learn taxidermy, why am I not charging anything to teach what I learned. Thing is, everyone learns differently. Out of the 13 kids in my taxidermy school, no two graduated at the same caliber. Which means not everyone is going to learn the same from my tutorial. (which is why I will offer taxidermy insight over DA notes/comments/e-mail)

Thank you for all the kind words! I am very glad that the tutorial has helped you in your taxidermy endeavors! I love hearing how it helps others.

~Zhon

ps. I got your Christmas card in the mail!!! I love it! First card of the year!!!

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Killslay-steelclaw In reply to Zhon [2010-12-08 14:34:40 +0000 UTC]

you are very welcome, and i can only thank you again for sharing your knowledge. it means alot.

you have been featured here [link]

and im so glad the card got there.

the cat sketch in pencil is from your cat, i cant remember if i said so in the card

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jerrymojo2 [2010-08-28 05:14:04 +0000 UTC]

Gorgeous wolf you got there.

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Ryuco-The-Dog-Demon [2010-06-19 03:27:27 +0000 UTC]

I have a question.

Im buying a yote pelt off line and I mapped my prices on Van Dyke's taxidermy store for the putty u mentioned (didnt find the EXACT name but Permoplast seems to be similar) and the goop.

My questions are is it a necessity to have the Ear plastic molds and did u stick them INSIDE the skin of the ear?

and my main question is that the shell I have in mind is a closed mouth model so how would I seal the lips together to the form? just the goop or should I use shoe glue like u mentioned XD

This really helps a lot for when I do the head on my pelt by its a cased skin so I may have to cut from the throat down in order to do the head

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Zhon In reply to Ryuco-The-Dog-Demon [2010-07-06 03:16:46 +0000 UTC]

You will need earliners if you want to replace the ear cartilage. Not necessarily molds out of plastic, you can use cardstock, but anything so it holds it's shape and keeps from curling.
Lips are tucked into the lip slots on closed mouth mounts.

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Ryuco-The-Dog-Demon In reply to Zhon [2010-07-06 03:27:41 +0000 UTC]

ok, I have one other quick question.

you mentioned paper pulp as a paste in your tutorial, Im a little short on cash to get the real hide paste and was wondering how would that stuff be made??

I just won my 61 inch coyote in a bid and I need to stretch my money as far as i can for him to come to life

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Zhon In reply to Ryuco-The-Dog-Demon [2010-07-06 12:57:51 +0000 UTC]

honestly...paper pulp you can get in paper mache which is only $5 at a craft store usually for 5lbs.

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