Very nice!

Nice work on the painting! I have some old fox fire books as they were called and in one it show's how to skin a ground hog, put hide into a mixture to de hair it and use the hide to make a banjo! I had no idea that's what early settlers in the Appalachian's made their banjo's from.

Awesome

One of my brothers goes every year to Weiser for the old time fiddlers contest. He always has front row seats and wouldn't miss it for the world.

I am surprised by this. Surely you are familiar with Foggy Marmot Breakdown. By Scat & Shruggs

Dang ! I should have remembered that !

Beaverpeeler, Weiser is a great time. So many hundreds of very talented groups, contestants, singers, from all over the country and Canada show up for this event. After the contests , our group would spend the afternoons and evenings jamming with various groups in the campgrounds. It was so fun. One thing needed in all those settings is to have a good backup guitar that can hold its own in deep resonance and volume to carry the tunes in so many groups like this. My Guild does just that.

I nevah see any woodchucks alive around there, either

It is a beautiful picture. The groundhogs around here are just plain brown. I was awed by the coloring wondering about the animal used as fur bearer.becase of the beautiful coloring.
You are a great artist Sharon.
just

just got mine yesterday, great job Sharon,

Great drawing. Nice to see you get the national recognition you deserve as talented as you are.

Yes there is a colour variety with them, it seems. Not sure if that is a habitat location thing , or just inheritance. I like the ones that are tri colored . It makes the image stand out from the plain browns of the ground. As large as they can get, I couldnt help but wonder about garments made from the fur, such as hats. But I guess the hide is too thick to be pliable enough.

Many thanks , everyone, for your kind words. Like any occupation that takes years, the longer you're honing your work, the better you become. The older you get, the more valued you are Like fine wine...

It's just a ton of practice, with no graduating from the school .

A very fine Ahhtist indeed !!!

They're soft when tanned properly, and the thick leather makes it easier to make the hat keep its shape. I like their fur, the contrast of the black down hair base, buff awn hair and chestnut guard hair tips creates interesting gradients. A bit similar to badger fur.



We have an endemic species that only lives around my hometown, the forest-steppe marmot, they live both in the meadows/steppes and in thick forests on ravine slopes. I saw these two last year, they were just a few feet away. The baby didn't see me and actually fell asleep.
https://youtu.be/lMTFpV591q4

Beautiful fur, Tatiana. It's very nice to hear the skins can look so nice and useful. Seeing these as you have them, I think a nice hat would be stylish and warm.

Thank you for sharing your photos.