Anthropomorphic and Naturalist Taxidermy Workshops

These workshops will introduce students to the process and techniques behind basic taxidermy. Students will learn how to skin, prep, preserve, mount and position the animal.

Students can choose to pose their mount in a naturalist setting but they will also be introduced to the art of anthropomorphism, the attribution of human characteristics to animals, plants or non-living things. This practice has been widely explored in the medium of taxidermy and was most famously realized by the Victorian taxidermist Walter Potter. His Museum of Curiosities featured wonderful bestial dioramas from a classroom of 48 bunnies in 'Rabbit School' to a wedding party of kittens dressed in morning coats and lace dresses with frilly knickers.

GUIDANCE NOTES:
*All rodents are ethically sourced and were not killed specifically for these workshops. They were bred as feeder animals for snakes and lizards. Not only would they be discarded if they weren’t sold but the reptiles who eat them wouldn’t be able to survive if the feeder rodents weren’t commercially available. Unlike us omnivores the majority of reptilian species don’t have the option of being vegetarian.
*NO dangerous chemicals will be used and all animals are disease free.
* Please be advised that this class is not for the faint hearted. There will be minimal blood and gore, but taxidermy is not for everyone.
* Please do not bring any dead animals with you to the class