Andrew Lancaster takes a creative approach to taxidermy. He combines different species and the result usually lands somewhere between creepy and brilliant. He's gained a pretty healthy following on Facebook (1,500 fans) and several news publications have run stories about him. We did a Q&A with Lancaster to get to know the man behind the mounts. Outdoor Life: How did you get started in taxidermy? Andrew Lancaster: I started skinning animals and birds for my brother in the UK, and started to do the whole process when I moved to New Zealand, 14 years ago. Q: What inspired you to combine different animals? A: I started to create hybrids when I could only use good parts from one animal or bird and match with another. Something slightly different for people. Q: What do you want people to know about your art? A: I am trying to create a different kind of taxidermy rather than just "the run of the mill." Q: In your own words, how would you describe your taxidermy? A: I would like to say my work is modern art, and recycling stuff that would otherwise decay. Q: Is there a certain species of animal you like to work with the most? A: I like to mount hares as I always think they are an elegant beast. Q: What is the most common response you get from people when they see your art? A: Most people are full of praise for my work, and only a minority find it distasteful. Q: Do you have a favorite piece that you've created? If so, what is it? A: One of my favorite pieces is a Mossum. It's on my Facebook photos. It was a possum body with a Magpie head and neck, and it just looked good. Q: Is taxidermy your full time profession or is it a hobby for you? A: It is a hobby and I am a marina caretaker during the day. Q: What are you trying to say with your work? Is it meant to entertain people? Get them to think? Inspire them? All of the above? A: I hope to make people smile and enjoy my pieces. You can find more of Andrew's work here and on his Facebook page. To buy his work, go to Trademe.com.More Taxidermy Photos Top Taxidermy
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