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WWW.SEALYNEWS.COM
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015 ■ PAGE B1
SEALY NEWS
Animal artistry Taxidermist gives new life to wildlife By JOE SOUTHERN editor@sealynews.com
John Guidry is in the business of giving things life after death. The former machine shop operator is a taxidermist who is in high demand in the Sealy area and whose work permeates the community. “These guys go on hunting trips and create those memories. I recreate those memories for them,” he said. Working out of a new, rustic-looking facility at 4039 FM 1094, Guidry is an artist and craftsman who spends his days sculpting lifelike masterpieces out of wildlife. “Taxidermy is not for everybody,” he said. “You have to be a little discreet about your business and what you do.” For those who desire his services, they are drawn to him because of quality work he does and the realism he puts into each mount. “He does very good work for me,” said Kevin Krampitz who is one of Guidry’s best and longest customers. “He’s done probably 25-30 heads for me at least,” said Krampitz, who has been taking his hunting trophies to Guidry since the early 1990s.
The Sealy News/JOE SOUTHERN
John Guidry works on a deer mount in his shop located near Sealy. The local taxidermist is in high demand with hunters in the region. When asked what he does with all the mounts, Krampitz said, “I have a very understanding wife.” So does Guidry. The job is demanding and time-consuming. He can easily lose himself in a project well into the evening. The nature of the job requires he work weekends so he can meet with clients. “She’s used to it,” he said of his wife, Jamie. When Guidry took the
business full-time about five or six years ago, she came onboard as his bookkeeper. “I couldn’t have done this without her,” he said. In addition to the books, she helps with the tedious paperwork the state requires of taxidermists. That gives Guidry more freedom to do the actual work. There is no shortage of work. “Last year I did 463
projects,” he said. That included 140 shoulder mounts and 85 skull mounts. Shoulder mounts are basically the head and neck of the deer, elk or other animal with horns or antlers. The lion’s share of his work are deer mounts, though he gets a lot of goats and an assortment of cats, birds and other game. Guidry is self-taught. He received his first instruction from a mail-
order book advertised in the back of a comic book. “I still have the first mount I ever did,” he said. “I use it to put my feet on the ground to show me where I came from.” While working at Cameron Iron Works he began doing taxidermy on the side as a hobby. As he got better, his business steadily grew. He started in 1993 and just a few years ago felt he reached the point
where he could quit his day job and make a living off his hobby. “The business is growing about where I want it to be. I’m not the biggest … I want to be considered one of the best,” he said. Guidry prides himself of the realism of his mounts. He is particularly focused on the eyes. “I try to make the ani■ TAXIDERMY, page B6
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