Staff Backgrounds at The Artistry of Wildlife

Dennis Harris
1971
At the age of 12, our lead taxidermist and owner, Mr. Dennis Harris was a young boy growing up in the suburbs of Detroit. His interest in the field of taxidermy was kindled by his desire to preserve his own trophies acquired from hunts of birds and small prey.
Although just a young boy, he noticed and was quite bothered by the fact that  what he was seeing in regards to the taixdemy of animals  was lifeless, unrealistic, dead looking statues. He knew there was something wrong. 

His desire was to bring realism and movement to his work and show his respect for the animals life. With a flair for sculpting and eye for meticulios detail, he set out to learn this form of art that so fascinated him. Finding instruction turned out to be an uphill battle. During this era, taxidermy was, to say the least, a secretive business. Most studios frowned upon inquisituive young boys looking for answers.  There were no videos, books, schools or seminars available like the teaching aides for the aspiring young taxidermists today. 
The only available means of learning the technique was the public library, and they were only able to provide a few books about museums and the preservation and study of skins. 
With some knowledge in hand the challenge then turned to finding the supplies.

By the age of 14, Dennis had found a friend in an old taxidermists named Pat, who owned a studio in Troy Michigan and was very encouraging to young aspiring taxidermists.
Every Saturday, one of his parents would first drive him to the local poultry market to purchase  pigeons or rabbits, then drive him across town to Pat's studio where he could purchase his supplies and ask numerous questions he was unable to find the answers to elsewhere. Dennis spent his weeks reading about taxidermy, practicing and saving his allowance and any other money he earned, always looking forward to Saturday morning and his next project. 

By the time Dennis was 16, he started taking on clients then opened his first studio at the age of 21. He won his first taxidermy awards in 1983 and has been creating the finest quality work every since.

35 years later he is going stronger than ever, with state and world taxidermy awards, under his belt, , he has worked for one of the most famous studios in the world, and has operated his own studios throughout his career, he has done work for and continues to also produce work for taxidermy studios throughout the counrtry. 

Each and every day he continues to strive for one thing, to bring TAXIDERMY into the realm of  the "ART WORLD" where it truely belongs............

Bet you thought we were going to say  "perfection". Only "God" can produce absolute perfection but we do our best to honor his creations by preserving them as close as is humanly possible.

More Biography information can be found at this link.
http://www.newsreview.com/reno/Content?oid=oid%3A20178