About Bourbon fish Art Works

My artwork consists of metal plated fish bones, from both fresh water and salt water habitats, with a polished or patina finish. They are made from real fish skeletons (ethically sourced) that have been fully stripped and cleaned using dermestid beetles, reassembled by hand and coated with several layers of liquid metal (usually tin or copper). The typical piece will take 20-100 hours to complete, depending on the size and delicate nature of the fish. The longest portion is during the assembly phase. It’s much like a jigsaw puzzle in that the skeleton has to be completely reassembled by hand, one bone at a time. It is a very similar process that museums and taxidermists use to produce animal skeletons for display. The metal application is 3-4 layers with the final layer including the patina acid. Once the “metalization” process is finalized a clear coat sealer is applied in order to preserve the appearance. Each artwork is completed with a custom mount or shadow box that best fits the unique piece.