Anyway, I started a taxidermy class. The art of preserving an animal's body via mounting (over an armature) or stuffing, for the purpose of display or study.
Our lecturer, Mr I Fillem, explained that there are two basic things to learn in taxidermy. First of all, you must ensure that the creature is dead. At a previous lesson someone tried to stuff a live rhinoceros and it stampeded throughout the college causing a lot of damage and panic. Especially when it ran through the art class and they were painting a nude woman at the time. He said he did not know his wife volunteered as a model behind his back ... or in front of his back for that matter. It was embarrassment all round, especially for the rhino who had never been to art classes before.
The second basic thing to learn about taxidermy, according to I Fillem, is to have in mind a clear picture of how you would like the finished product to look. A hippo fighting a shark for instance will not do since there are no sharks in the jungle; unless you happen to take one with you on vacation.
He suggested we start with a small creature as our first attempt at taxidermy.
I chose a snail. This was problematic since it was in its shell at the time and we did not know whether it was dead or alive, or indeed hibernating. Snails can hibernate for months apparently.
A tortoise proved to be the same problem since it was also in its shell; unless one were to find a claustrophobic tortoise which would oblige by staying out long enough until it died a natural death. The secondary problem was that tortoises live for a very long time and certainly longer than the 14 weeks which the course was scheduled to last.
I Fillem suggested I go to the biology class and see if they can spare a dead mouse which I could use as my first subject at taxidermy. It so happened that they had one mouse too many and they obliged by giving it to me.
I took him home that evening and wrapped him in an old sock ready to take with me the next day to taxidermy class. Unfortunately that night our cat discovered the mouse and used it as its play thing.
When I took it to class the instructor said it was too bruised and mangled to do anything with it.
He suggested I take up flower pressing as a hobby instead.
...flower pressing for me!
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for flowers being pressed in a book.
DeleteGod bless, Tom.
What interesting problems you have!
ReplyDeleteOpportunities, not problems. Not everyone can aspire to a stuffed giraffe in their living room ...
DeleteGod bless, Kathy.
Thank you for my good laugh this morning...Perhaps flower pressing would be the better choice for you. Have a Blessed day Victor.
ReplyDeleteThat's what Tom suggested. Flower pressing need patience and I'm too pressed already for my time.
DeleteGod bless you, Shug.
Víctor, me gusto tu relato, prensar flores no esta tan mal.
ReplyDeleteBuen fin de semana, sonrió al leerte.
Besos
TRANSLATION: Victor, I liked your story. Pressing flowers isn't so bad. Have a good weekend. I smiled when I read it.
DeleteKisses.
Thank you Momentos. Maybe I will try pressing just one flower. Best wishes to you and your family. God bless.
always admired the Taxidermists, but now I am 'skeered'.
ReplyDeleteLove from the next coast over this way...
Perhaps I should try art classes, Jack. I once painted a lady in the nude and she told me to put some clothes on.
DeleteGod bless you and yours.
At this point, I'd suggest the same, Victor. Good try, though. God bless!
ReplyDeletePressing flowers does not sound so exciting, does it?
DeleteGod bless, Martha.
What a pickle you've found yourself in, Victor! I don't know ... a pressed flower seems really woeful. Have you considered stamp collecting. Or croquet?
ReplyDeleteI did play croquet some years ago at Rugby, England. It isn't as peaceful a game as you might think; the idea (I was told) is to knock the opponent's ball as far away from the hoop as possible. It was quite a pleasant afternoon as I recall. Thank you, Mevely, for bringing back fond memories.
DeleteGod bless you.
Such an interesting topic you chose here, and the insights are clever. We had a stuff pheasant for many years, one that hubby #1 had shot in South Dakota.We moved MANY times over the years. Packing the bird so as to not damage his long tail feathers was a challenge every time. We finally wearied of him after some 48 years and donated him to Good Will. True story.
ReplyDeleteIf it is well done by a professional taxidermist a creature like your bird could last for many years. As you say, moving home could be quite a challenge without damaging plumage etc ...
DeleteGod bless, Barbara.
Maybe you can do a lecture on crafting instead, much easier and many crafts to choose from and talk about.
ReplyDeleteI wish I was a good photographer, Bill.
DeleteGod bless you.
Got to make sure the animal is really dead too! lol
ReplyDeleteI think pressing flowers might be better. :)
ReplyDelete