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#AwfulTaxidermy
Where ugly mounts derp together

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Submitted: October 18, 2011
Image Size: 2.0 MB
Resolution: 2112×2816

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Comments: 64
Favourites: 30 [who?]
Views: 1,333 (2 today)
Downloads: 47 (0 today)

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Make:Canon
Model:Canon PowerShot SD630
Shutter Speed:1/10 second
Aperture:F/3.5
Focal Length:8 mm
Date Taken:Oct 18, 2010, 8:48:35 PM
Sensor Size:5mm

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Ermine Taxidermyby ~CindarellaPop

Artisan Crafts / Leatherwork / Taxidermy

My latest bit of taxidermy work, a female ermine that I've nicknamed "Star." She's probably my biggest improvement thus far, which is actually pretty sad considering how bad she still is, but I'm still way more proud than I should be for finishing her.

She's got a soft body and has a wire skeleton, making her poseable to an extent. Her hide was rehydrated and dried flat, which made her skin warp in weird places and makes her oddly lumpy and too-skinny in a few spots, but at least I know what I did wrong so I can avoid that in the future. I might be building a base for her later, I have an idea involving a fish bowl.

As of right now, she's not for sale.

NOTE: This is a real animal skin. The fur did not come from a fur farmed animal, it was trapped legally in the United States as part of a population control program to help certain species of birds. I didn't kill her, she was purchased from another taxidermist already dead. I don't expect everyone to like this, and it's natural to think it's creepy, but express yourself respectfully.

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~HyenaWolf123 Jan 29, 2012

Could you take some more shots of her, like at different angles?

~CindarellaPop Jan 29, 2012 Student Traditional Artist

I should, I need more angles on her.

*RandomRobskii Dec 29, 2011 Student General Artist

Educate me about taxidermy? I know what it is, but I've no idea how it's done.

~CindarellaPop Dec 29, 2011 Student Traditional Artist

Well, first you start with the whole carcass of the animal. It has to be carefully skinned so that every small piece of skin remains intact. Then, any excess flesh and fat needs to be carefully scraped from the non-hair side of the skin.

Then the skin is salted and dried. After that, it is sent to a tanning bath which is a different series of rinses and baths in different chemical preservatives. After it's tanned and dried, it's leather and will not rot. Then, using a bit of water to get the skin to stretch and loosen up, it's fitted over a form.

A form is a rigid sculpture that goes inside the skin and gives it a life like shape. The skin is stitched up over the form, glass eyes are added, then the hair has to be brushed and groomed and the nose fixed up and it's complete.

*RandomRobskii Dec 30, 2011 Student General Artist

That's incredible. So, the part you do is just the last bit, right? The sculpting and stitching? It's all very interesting. Is the insides of the skin gross?

~CindarellaPop Dec 30, 2011 Student Traditional Artist

Yep, I've only ever actually skinned one or two small animals myself, usually I just purchase already tanned skins. It's a bit greasy inside but it isn't gross or bloody if you do it right, everything is held in by the muscle wall.

!Rex-Hammond Nov 20, 2011

I'd put a cute little hat on it with your second attempt.

~CindarellaPop Nov 20, 2011 Student Traditional Artist

I should.

!Rex-Hammond Nov 20, 2011

Err after the base I mean.

~AzureRose09 Oct 20, 2011

She's so adorable!

I totally saw her in a pink mohawk

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