Callan's Artistic Taxidermy

Extract from The Local Seeker

When Daniel Callan was 14 years old, his pet pigeon die. He was very attached to the little feller and decided to commemorate its life by going to a taxidermist and having it mounted. The taxidermist explained to him how things were done and Dan took a profound interest in the subject. He asked so many questions and showed such desire to learn that the taxidermist began showing him how to do it and a passion was born.

As it is often the case with passions, it first became a hobby. Callan's main work was at the mill. The paper mill, that is. But Daniel kept on practicing his art, on nights and week-ends, for friends, family and clients. He became really good at it and kept perfecting his craft over and over, making every piece look as realistic as possible. In 1995, Daniel started competing at the Canadian Taxidermy Competition as a way of learning - winning several awards along the way, including 3 Best of Show awards.

After 20 years, with the closure of the mill in 2006, Daniel lost his job, like so many others. Daniel was left with nothing but his art and his time. He signed up for the Self Employed Assistance (SEA) Program at St Lawrence College in the fall of 2006. His new found knowledge and courage paved the way to a new stage in his life: Callan’s Artistic Taxidermy was born.

Daniel Callan is now a full time award-winning taxidermist and has over thirty one years of experience in the taxidermy field under his belt. He has a passion for wildlife, which is brought out in his work. He specializes in Game heads and life-size mounts, and with the kick-off of the hunting season, he's the guy to see if you want your trophy commemorated.

Callan’s Artistic Taxidermy is your one stop shop for all your taxidermy needs. No job is too big or too small. Callan will spend as much time and effort into animal research and reference study as he does finishing the pieces. Callan believes in the importance of anatomy research as part of the taxidermy process and also believes that it clearly shows in the final product.

Taxidermy is truly a form of modern art and his studio makes every effort to bring the two together in every project, whether large or small. You can rest assured that at Callan’s Artistic Taxidermy, your hard earned catch will receive the highest quality of craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Callan offers services both in English and French. The Turnaround time for most pieces is around 4 months to a year (depending on the animal). Callan's Artistic Taxidermy is located at 17055 Cornwall Centre Road. Feel free to call (613) 932-0517 with any questions and you can book a visit to his showroom or visit his website at www.callanstaxidermy.com Oh, and if you contact Daniel, ask to see the pigeon that started it all. It still proudly sits on his mantle.