Lawrence Taxidermy Studio

05/23/2026

Here are a few pictures from a class last week with Mr Jim Tostrud, from Wisconsin. We worked primarily on painting techniques on a couple bass and perch reproductions he brought ready to paint from the manufacturer.

Jim was a wonderful student, as was Ben Schuck the days before him. Very lucky to have common interests with such fine folks.

We shared some amazing Italian food he brought with him, and enjoyed a lot of fellowship! We talked an awful lot about fishing and our love for fish themselves, which isn't very hard to get me to do!

05/17/2026

I was able to swap blanks with my buddy Ben Peterson from Nebraska, and got this chunky Smallmouth!

He wanted a Largemouth I had molded, and I wanted one of his Smallmouth he had molded. I was able to use it for a customer fish that had that look, and it finished out great!

Eyes are Steve Silseth Largemouth Eyes, but I use them for a lot of Smallmouth as well. They have a nice rich look to them that works well for those smallies without the red/orange coloration.

Some inside and outside pictures.

Thanks Ben!

04/27/2026

This 11 7/8" stunner hen Bluegill is headed to Indiana today. Custom mold and cast.

This hen had some rich brown to her fins that bled into her a**l fin a little. Something I don't often see. She also had some pretty electric greens and other colors along her back. Such a pretty fish. Tiny ear tabs.

Prefinished habitat from

Eyes from Steve Silseth.

Bluegill are a fish that take me a long time to paint it seems, in relation to other species.

Hope you all like it.

04/26/2026

This weekend the oldest kid and I journeyed down to Warsaw, MO to target Spoonbill Paddlefish with my good friend and customer . He did such a great job showing us how the electronics worked, and was very patient with us while we learned how to do it. He took his time and went above and beyond to make sure we had not only a successful and fun trip, but an educational one at the same time. Which I appreciated as much as anything else honestly. His dad also was a great help with cleaning the fish and sharing in the conversations.

We harvested these fish not just for sport, but for food as well, and brought home enough meat to feed us for quite a while!! Along with the meat, we brought home the heads we will send off and have beetle cleaned to remember the trip by!

The amount of people and fish that were down there is truly remarkable. An amazing fishery to see.

It was certainly a trip of a lifetime for memories made and fellowship had.

Thanks buddy! You were a great guide! We had a perfect weekend. Till the next adventure!

04/21/2026

Here's a big one that got delivered a couple weeks ago. Apparently I forgot to post it.

27x22ish Replica

Rebuilt some of the fleshy spots on the tail and pec fin, as well as painted some reds back on the fish in certain places, as shown in the customers reference.

Prefinished habitat from

04/18/2026

My buddy Tim's fb is still hacked, but check this video out on a guide trip he is featured on!

I've been lucky enough to fish with Tim a few times, and caught my personal best Steelhead, Brown Trout, and King Salmon. Haven't cracked my Buck Steelhead or Coho yet, but we won't stop trying !

He also guided one of my students this winter for Yellow Perch and my student caught a 16.75"er. Biggest Perch I've ever seen.

Episode #16, 2026: Trophy Time on the River - FULL EPISODE

03/26/2026

I have mounted deer for Mike since I have been out of taxidermy school. That's a very long time.

I have done roughly 30 shoulder mount Whitetail for him. He never skull or panel mounts them, it's always a standard shoulder mount. Ive mounted them scoring from the upper 190s to 130s, and everywhere in between. In that time we have both learned a lot! I have him trained on how to properly cape and prepare his hides, and he has trained me on the value of a great customer.

It would be cool to go check out his trophy room, and see the progression of work from then to now.

This deer was strikingly beautiful. Just a gorgeous cape and mounted like a dream on that SUO.

Thanks for always being an A+ customer and friend, Mike.

03/24/2026

Had a great time last week judging the PA show. Was with a great group of judges. Got to see some old friends, and meet some new ones!

I had more people in my seminar than I've ever had I think! Hopefully someone learned at least one thing to better their craft. That's the goal.

Back to the grind, now.

03/15/2026

Spring break is upon us!

Got some free day labor out of the oldest. He had to wake up early, two days in a row, ON SPRING BREAK!!!

Can you believe it? I'M A MONSTER!!!

22 7/8 x 19 1/4 respectively

This is an exceptional mold, with exceptional details. I will remaster a cast and remold it in rubber for a production mold down the road at some point.

He did a great job helping, and got to learn first hand how it's done. I enjoyed spending the day with him working on it.

This thing has such a cool shape. A brick with fins.