This wooden sculpture captures the bird’s optimism after the long winter.
Both male (the upper bird) and the female (lower bird) are carved of tupelo. They are indicative of my new dedication to detail. The intricate detail carving lends itself better to oil paints. The branch is brass.
The piece stands 9 inches high, and is available for purchase.
This post shows some of the steps in the painting. The nature of acrylic paint allows the artist to establish depth with the complementary purple color, the tone to be established with yellow and fimal hue to be adjusted with red.
The bird is tupelo, the branch and leaves are brass, and the base is mesquite and maple burl. It may be purchased.
Pheucticus ludovicianus
This life-sized sculpture shows the delicate balance of songbirds and nature. The colors of late summer are captured at the leafy edge of the forest.
This piece utilizes the “smoothie” technique where no fine detail feather carving is done. All details are accomplished with paint brush alone. The bird is of tupelo, the branch is of brass, steel, and epoxy. Both are painted with acrylics. It was entered in the 2009 Ward World Carving Competition. It is in a private collection.
Poecile atricapilla
This latest entry in the chickadee collection is life-sized and captures the softness of the curious little bird. It depicts the uncertainty of its situation as it decides whether to stay or go.
The base is native Vermont maple burl and the bird is of tupelo. The grass is made of brass. This piece is in a private collection.
Carduelis tristis
This delicate piece captures the fragile nature of life as a small bird as fall approaches and grasses are no longer green.
The bird is of tupelo, the grass is steel and the base is maple burl. It is in a private collection.
Sialia sialis
This charming miniature depicts a “teenaged” bluebird brood days before they are on their own. Father is not sure who to feed. The piece is 4 1/2 inches wide and 3 inches high.
The branch separates from the base, and may be displayed with or without the elm-wood base. The birds are of tupelo. The fine detail may be seen in several of the photos. The sculpture is in a private collection.
Poecile atricapilla
BELOW THE FEEDER. This charming life-sized sculpture depicts life in the winter. Should the hungry bird venture from his fluffed-up warmth to capture the seed?
The bird and seed are of tupelo, the base is red cedar and the branch is steel wire. It is in a private collection and stands 5 inches high.
Cardinalis cardinalis
This stunning piece stands 5 inches high. The impressive detail work can be seen in the close-up photos. The base is of red cedar, the bird is of tupelo and the vine is steel and brass.
It is in a private colletion. It was completed in January 2007.
