To me, Nature is God. Without it, we simply would not exist. Conserving the world’s natural spaces and the creatures that live there is paramount to the survival of humans as a species, and I have therefore dedicated my life to studying environmentalism in order to help people co-exist more successfully and sustainably with the natural world.
All natural materials I use in my creations are either sourced from roadkill, Fish and Game, secondhand sources such as fellow artists and estate sales, or are antique. In this way, I'm ensuring that no animals were needlessly killed for the sake of the artwork I produce. I fully believe that no part of any creature should go to waste if a purpose can be found for it, but I do NOT support trophy hunters or overseas fur farms by buying 'byproducts' like bones, skulls, or claws directly from them. The only exception I make for this rule is for parts from animals legally culled for population control programs approved by Fish and Wildlife.
As a photographer and wildlife enthusiast, I've been involved with many fantastic organizations such as Images4Life and Wild Tiger, as well as the Sierra Club and many smaller, local groups.
I've been published, interviewed, and even featured on Rainn Wilson (Dwight from “The Office”)'s personal networking website, SoulPancake.com.
I’ve also been blessed with the opportunity to visit many of the world’s most amazing wild places, like Komodo Island, Bali, Lombok, Malaysia, and the Cayman Islands, and have even documented entirely new species previously unknown to science.
Other interests include: Wilderness survival, primitive skills, backpacking, fishing, kayaking, boffing, airsoft, snowboarding, meandering around town, and caving.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
“Green Man of Portland” - Photograph of public street art on display Downtown.
A plasticized caribou.
(Source: assaulttrifle)
This is a commission I just finished recently for D. Camilo, director of TALLWORKS Collective in LA. They’re a great design studio with some fantastic work, and I had a lot of fun completing this piece.
Check out TALLWORKS’ site!
I think he’s smiling. :)
I want that leopard.
(Source: x-oskeleton)
Vanitas (2007-2011) by Ghyslain Bertholon
(Source: octopus-chop)
(Source: jadeandhearts)
That fur. So pretty.
(Source: johnnyrealworld)
The hide used for this headdress came from tannery in Washington owned and operated by a friend. The deer is a HUGE Pacific Northwest mule deer featuring a fully-mounted head and ‘blind’ eyes made from opalite glass. These eyes are backed in highly-polished silver foil to reflect light back through them; they literally glow, much like a cats’ eyes, in low light.
This was the first deer I ever mounted for taxidermy, and it is by no means perfect (he has a few slip spots on one side of the face which have been touched up with paint; the lips were not tucked very well; and his eyes are not perfectly formed), but it’s still one of the most impressive headdresses I’ve created to date. Among my friends, he is even somewhat of a legend, and it’s taken me a while to decide that it’s time for us to part ways. But I have other projects I plan to pursue, and in order to accomplish them, I need to make a bit of room.
Want him? Get him here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/94613809/full-pelt-genuine-mule-deer-headdress
The hide used for this headdress came from a fellow taxidermist whose customer didn’t skin it properly to be mounted. The hide was deemed unsuitable for taxidermy and was going to be thrown away.
This deer was just a spike buck when it was taken, so there were two small holes where the antlers were growing in. These have been patched up, giving the deer the appearance of a doe. I had planned to add antlers, but figured they’d be too cumbersome for this particular pelt. I will likely make another later on that will have antlers attached.
This headdresses is made using the whole hide minus the legskins. It has a lovely little tail on it and a beautiful rustic look. The hair is smooth and glossy, and the face has stunning markings, including a beautiful dark stripe down the muzzle.
Want it? Get it here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/94612181/full-pelt-genuine-whitetail-deer
(Source: clemvalentine)
I want this in my yard…
Hot damn! 40 point buck.
