Animal Artistry’s 90-Day Turnaround Explained
At Animal Artistry, we understand the frustration hunters feel when they are forced to wait for their trophies to be completed. There is nothing worse than going on a hunt and letting those memories of the adventure fade due to a slow taxidermy service. This is why we created the 90-Day Turnaround.
Some think our 90-Day Turnaround means we work quickly and push things through. This is NOT the case. Although we are able to mount trophies much faster than our competition, our process is built using a highly structured and efficient system.
A Better Way
Unlike most taxidermy studios, our skins are sent to the tannery immediately upon receipt. Our longstanding business relationship with the best tanneries means priority service, and skins are returned to Animal Artistry within 30 days, which in most cases is before the other taxidermists even send skins out. During the tanning process, clients are contacted directly to discuss and finalize pose requests, pay deposits, etc. We also use this time to assemble supplies (mannikins, eyes, glue, etc.), ensuring that we are ready to create your trophy immediately upon its return from the tannery.
Our Process
Once the skin is tanned and back in the shop, it makes its way through three specific departments, which are run by individuals who are trained as specialists. Our departments include the following:
Skin and Mannikin Preparation
Each piece of art begins with properly preparing the skin — sewing up holes, thinning down nasal and eye membranes, removing ear cartilage, adding ear liners, and completing other steps as needed. The mannikin is also carefully sculpted for gesture, detail, size, and accurate anatomy. Horns are set, eyes put in, and the face is molded with clay for a realistic facial expression. Once the skin is prepped and the mannikin is adjusted, the prepared skin goes onto the mannikin, and the people who prepared the skin sew it up. What happens during this process is that people working together with specialized skillsets can work efficiently while also being much more careful about the details. This results in more time and attention spent on your mount than traditional methods.
Finishing
After the mount is dried, airbrush artists in our finishing department add finishing touches for stunning realism. During this phase, our works of art are expertly airbrushed, groomed, and puttied.
Habitat
Finally, life-size and pedestal mounts are sent to the habitat department. Our habitat artists create the trees, rocks, grass, water, snow, and other elements for the setting of each piece. All of the necessary materials to create these stunning landmasses are in the shop, so the artists can immediately access and create whatever necessary to put the habitat under the animal.
The Results Are In
As a result, in 90 days, your trophy is complete! Not because we were in a hurry, not because we pushed it though, but because we were organized, efficient, and got to work on your trophy immediately.
One of the many benefits of operating this way is nothing bad happens while the skin sits on the shelf, collecting dust, succumbing to bugs, or being lost or mislabeled. Your trophy is finished in 90 days, and you get to relax, show it off to your friends, and relive the adventure of your hunt.
Innovators in Taxidermy
In addition to being the innovator in creating original, high quality works of wildlife art, this is yet another innovative approach to taxidermy, and we have been doing it now for over four years — even during the pandemic we have maintained our 90-Day Turnaround while ensuring our exceptional commitment to quality.