cat mounts...it's in the eyes
Contributors to this thread:General Topic
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
IMO- whether you're doing mt lions, bob cats or any other predator, if you don't get the eyes right they just don't look life like. I didn't take pics of the mounting process of this project but instead will just focus on how I do my facial work.
From: trackman
08-Feb-13
Looks good to me and i have seen alot of cats
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
I will be using a cast nose for this cat. I first cut the original one off and drill out the form for depth then paint the hole black.
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
I mark where the ear canal will go into the skull.
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
A pic of the cast I will use.
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
Attaching the nose on.
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
From: HuntnBigGame
08-Feb-13
I already have to say, I thought I was looking at a real cat from your first Pic.
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
After I get the nose on I mask it before I do my clay work.
Thanks huntnbiggame!
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
I also carve out the ears. This allows me to give the cat whatever attitude I want without limitations after he's mounted.
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
I drill the eyes out so I can set the desired depth and also do an eye rotation if I wish.
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
Set and rough in my eyes.
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
After I have all my clay work done I'll mount the cat. Now I will adjust him and let it dry. I pull all the whiskers before mounting and will put them back in after he's all painted.
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
And a pic of him painted with the whiskers in.
From: D Martin
08-Feb-13
The nose looks a couple shades too pink to me. Will the the nose darken some? Note, I am a novice not a critic, just asking. Thank you for the thread, the pics are great, and yes the eyes are a large part of the mount depending on the animal and the pose.
From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
Dennis Razza's Link
Here he is on his finished base. Thanks for following!Dennis
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From: Dennis Razza
08-Feb-13
D Martin- Bobcats range a bit in color from a dusty fleshy pink to a rusty reddish. This cat has a little more of a rusty look than the picture shows. I'm not sure if it's my flash or lighting. I need some photography tips!
From: huntmaster
08-Feb-13
Very Nice Work!!
From: LBshooter
08-Feb-13
Now I want a babcat lol. Nice work!
From: Grunt-N-Gobble
08-Feb-13
You do some nice work Dennis.
From: Knife2sharp
08-Feb-13
One of the few cats I've seen mounted that actually looks alive.
From: Tradman and Huntress
08-Feb-13
Awesome work Dennis! My husband and I have always said that if anyone can do a good bobcat, then they can do anything. You're so right about it being in the eyes. We've seen our share of "happy" or "confused" looking bobcats!
From: Trophy8
08-Feb-13
Dennis, all I can say is wow! Your attention to detail in making it look real is fantastic.
From: Jim B
08-Feb-13
Cat noses are hard to photograph (mounted ones)and have the color look like it does to our eyes.I don't understand it either but have seen it happen.I have cameras that handle warmer colors differently too,so maybe that is some of it.And regarding range of cat nose colors,I have caught some with black noses.I wouldn't do one that way,but they can vary.
As important as the eyes are,there is a ton of other stuff that goes in to a good mount,like color patterns hair patterns,ear angles and many other details.And you nailed them all.Those feet didn't fall together by themselves.Impeccable work on the feet and toes,as in all the rest.One great looking cat.
From: bowhunter22
09-Feb-13
Awesome work Dennis wish you weren't so far away
From: 'Ike' (Phone)
09-Feb-13
Amazing...
From: Elkhuntr
09-Feb-13
great work, i enjoy your threads. thanks for sharing.
From: woodguy65
09-Feb-13
Dennis - incredible!
Banjo - That doe has alot of gray on her head, how old do you think she was?
From: JW
09-Feb-13
Awesome work Dennis!
From: GhostBird
09-Feb-13
Great looking cat!
I also like the barnwood base with the habitat spilling over the lip... very nice!
From: hunterdad
09-Feb-13
Great looking mount. Thanks for posting. Now my wife wants a bobcat mount!!
From: BO-N-ARO
09-Feb-13
One thing that jumped out to me was the outside corners of the eyes are different. The left eye is correct while the right is different and to high. For me, I would wash the nose with thinned brown and let it fill the depressions and wipe off the top surface. It might be the photo but the color looks pink vs more orange. All in all nice work. I always enjoy your working posts.
From: Beav
09-Feb-13
Great mount and what awesome markings on that cat. Thanks for posting, you are one hell of a taxidermist.
From: Ironbow
09-Feb-13
That is the best cat mount I have ever seen. Fantastic.
From: wilhille
10-Feb-13
You sir, are an artist! The feline has to be the hardest of any animal to mount, and I think you nailed it. I love it. Good job! Wow...
From: wilhille
10-Feb-13
If I ever get a cat that I want mounted, you definitely have my business. Rhodes eyes look right through you.... into your soul.
From: wilhille
10-Feb-13
*those
From: midwest
10-Feb-13
Love these threads, Dennis. Outstanding work!
From: midwest
10-Feb-13
I was thinking of having this guy do my cat if I ever got one. Looks so natural, like it's still alive.
Hard to believe, but I think this guy even makes his own eyes.
From: in2dmtns
10-Feb-13
Fantastic looking cat, very detailed and quality work. thanks for posting...
From: AndyK
10-Feb-13
Midwest that is amazing quality!!! Lmao
From: blg
10-Feb-13
Hey Dennis I agree, but it's in the eyes of the Taxidermist foremost !!!!
You sure do fine work...
From: ml335
10-Feb-13
Beautiful cat! I love the base work also, everything from the face to the feet looks absolutely perfect, well done.
From: city hunter
10-Feb-13
I like that position on the cat very natural looking ,
From: slade
10-Feb-13
Dennis,
That is the best looking mount I have ever seen.
Midwest,
That thing needs to be burned with the ashes, encased in lead and dropped into the Mariana Trench.
From: Dennis Razza
10-Feb-13
Thanks everyone!
Midwest- Lol... I would like to get a few sets of eyes off him to try out!
From: Bill in MI
10-Feb-13
If it were easy to switch out, I'd have some fun with my customers with some eyes from Midwest...stand back all proud like and ask them what they thought lol....then put the real ones in ha!
Awesome mount...Where are you located? Done any mountain lions? PM if you would like.
Thx Bill
From: Dennis Razza
10-Feb-13
Thanks Bill, That would be funny. I would like to see their faces! I'm about 30 mile east of Pittsburgh Pa and I do Mt loins. I have a few client shipping some in now and hope to do a thread maybe late summer early fall on cougars. Thanks, Dennis
From: LWood
10-Feb-13
That looks great! Another good thread, Dennis. Thanks for sharing.
From: RK
24-Apr-13
Dennis is incredible with cats. He did one of my clients cats that was in rather bad shape and I was amazed how well it came out. Could not recommend him more. Good work Dennis
From: Panhandle Bob
24-Apr-13
I love Bobcat mounts! Great job Dennis!
From: Heat
24-Apr-13
Mr. Razza, you are certainly a master at your craft. Thank you for sharing your work!
Nick
From: Bill V
26-Apr-13
Another nice one Raz!
Bill V.
From: Jaquomo_feral
26-Apr-13
Beautiful mount, Dennis, but it really doesn't have the "it" factor as midwests's cat, LOL!!
Great advice about the eyes. IMO< many taxidermists don't pay enough attention to the eye set on any animal, which makes the difference between the mount looking "alive" vs. dead and stuffed.
I have an elk mount with the eyes looking in different directions. Other than that it's good work, but I had to hang it so I could only see one side its head.
From: drycreek
26-Apr-13
Great looking mount! Mine look........dead
From: JB
27-Apr-13
Absolutely awesome! Like huntnbiggame, I thought it was alive. I have now added a cat to my wish list.
