This class is designed for beginners to learn professional level techniques used in small mammal taxidermy. By focusing on the facial features, students will create a shoulder mount that can be affixed to a plaque or hung as is. Students will learn everything they need to create their very own rabbit or jackalope taxidermy mount, from proper skinning, degreasing/washing, to sculpting, mounting, and finishing.. Students will learn the traditional methods of sculpting and carving a bust to create a shoulder mount form.

Students also have the option to create a jackalope/hybrid creature using real antler pieces, or sculpting their own. Students are also welcome to bring their own props or accessories if desired. Students will watch a skinning and fleshing demonstration, and proceed to work with professionally cleaned and tanned skins. This will allow the students to focus on the finer details of creating a finished piece, and practice specific mounting techniques, like carving, fitting, and modifying a form, sewing, assembly, and grooming. We will discuss how to use reference and study anatomy practically for beginner’s taxidermy. (This class uses domestic rabbits and not wild rabbits, so the jackalope created will not be as large as a wild rabbit. Domestic rabbits are used because they are more forgiving for beginners to handle rather than very thin-skinned wild rabbits)

Each student will leave class with a finished piece, and the knowledge to create their own pieces in the future.

Pre-registration required

$385 for ADKX Members; $415 for Non-Members

About the Instructor: 

Divya Anantharaman is an award- winning licensed professional preserving animals with honor and compassion for clients ranging from museums, designers, collectors, and everyday naturalists. Her specialties are birds, small mammals, and anatomic anomalies, with a select number of commissions open for pets. Her work seeks to combine the demonstrative aspect of scientific presentation with the symbolic, introspective nature of art, using taxidermy to engage diverse audiences with conservation. She is passionately curious about the untapped potential of this scientific art, and sharing it with others. Her classes seek to demystify the taxidermy process, to make the field more accessible, and to engage folks with wonder and connection to the natural world. In her commitment to conservation, she regularly volunteers with various ornithological organizations (such as the formerly named NYC Audubon Society and NYC Plover Project). You can learn more at https://www.gothamtaxidermy.com/

Location:

The Adirondack Experience
9097 State Route 30
Blue Mountain Lake, NY 12812