Dinosaurs and Freak Taxidermy

I've been restoring some work I made a while back.



I'm not usually one for "taxidermy freaks". I tend to find that concept (and often execution) all a bit easy/amateur. That said, I still have a bit of a soft spot for these guys... perhaps because of the obvious/cartoon like head/body switch. These were some of my first sculptures involving taxidermy before I learned how to do it myself, so perhaps it's sentimental in that way too.

At the time I was interested in the idea of birds being the closest living ancestors of dinosaurs. I liked the idea of some crazy scientist dude trying to bring dinosaurs back to life by using birds. In this case, the bird used was an edwardian grouse with a decorated mount.

Portrait

A recent portrait of me wearing my pigeon wing headdress by Jean-Francois Carly.

This image is the first of a collaboration between me and four photographers. Each participating photographer is a friend of mine who has been an integral part of the establishment of my practice and RP/Encore. These images reflect their understanding of me/my work and I have no say in what goes on appart from being in the photo.

Stay tuned for the other three images!

RP/ENCORE WEBSHOP

Long live the new RP/Encore website!

That's right, after 2 years of temperamental flash induced hell, we finally have a working html website!

Designed by the ever patient and talented Alastair T Willey, this spanking new gem can be viewed via your iPhone or smart phone anywhere in the world!

DISCOUNT PERIOD NOW OVER
To celebrate this momentous occasion we are giving you 15% off all orders made through the website for the next WEEK!

Just enter the following code when you're checking out: pedaltothemetal

Discount ends 6pm Monday the 20th of June.

INSPIRATION

Rings I'm wearing at the mo

avid readers will spot clues for what's coming up in the next collection...

OZZY!!!!

Why... what's that?...





Oh, you know it's just one of my all time favorite musicians wearing my double rat headdress.

Yep, pretty chuffed it made it on to one of Kerrang! Magazine's May covers. In case you missed it you can order your copy HERE. This issue is pretty fuckin sweet and includes a six page spread on the metal legend, where he talks about growing up in Bermingham, and going solo. As they say in the mag, "The dude's lived enough for ten people" so it's pretty cool seeing what he has to say for himself.

Here's a little taste test of what's inside:



And with that I leave you with the following:

down by the river

Another Thames riverbed find by Chris Eaton.

TARGET PRACTICE

Love these targets from shooting in Los Angeles...

RP/ENCORE WEBSHOP

GO HERE!!

Matt

image by Tom Houser

Patricija

Check out these beautiful photographs and collage by my former assistant Patricija Stepanovic :







All images © Patricija Stepanovic. (flickr HERE, tumblr HERE)

So proud of you Patricija! Keep up the amazing work!xxx

Grandpa's gun license

Ahhh America...

DAS MAGAZIN

Photographer: Pier Luigi Maccor

This image needs an explanation:

Remember back in January when Selfridges awarded me the status of Bright Young Thing and gave me a window on Oxford Street to decorate for the month of January?

Well, if you were lucky enough to pass by Selfridges any time from the beginning of January until early March you would have also seen two windows filled with life size cardboard cut-outs of all 20 designers/jewellers/artists awarded the status of Bright Young Thing.

When it came time to clear the cut-outs from the windows, Selfridges got in touch, and a few of my friends insisted I pick mine up so they could decorate their houses with life-size 2D versions of yours truly. Well, when I was walking from the tube station to their house with my double me(s) the photo crew from DAS Magazin approached me to take a set of inpromptu photos for their weekly mag! How random is that?

KILLER/Peace Death

For those of you who aren't following me on twitter:




Panasonic "playing" with a dead bird.




A peaceful squirrel found in Victoria Park.