10/05/2026
🦞 A little over a year ago, I had no idea what I was doing and received this big guy... with a ton of trial and error, he is finally done!
I originally got this spiny lobster while I was pregnant. At the time, I made the mistake of boiling it and leaving it in salt for several days. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, and unfortunately, it cracked and broke apart in so many places that I eventually just put it away.
Fast forward to this year — I finally started my taxidermy journey and have spent the time since learning, experimenting, making mistakes, and slowly figuring things out with the help of my mentor and coworkers.
I decided to pull that old lobster back out and give it another chance. I dislocated every single joint, ran wire through each of its legs, and rebuilt it piece by piece. The tail fans are completely sculpted and recreated.
The beach base and the rock/cave were made from two-part expanding foam, which I carved into shape. The barnacles were cast using a silicone mold we already had and then individually painted with PanPastels. The lobster itself was airbrushed to bring everything together.
This piece took a LOT of time, patience, and probably more frustration than I care to admit. But, seeing the finished result makes every bit of it worth it.
Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect! - Words from the wise.