how to get puffiness

[Helen]

I have books by Corbett, Guge, Daisey, etc. and for the love of me I can't duplicate the "puffiness" of the feathers that I see on these pages. They talk about channeling, flowing etc. and I just can't seem to do it. I have practised on blocks of tupelo, sanded them down and tried again. What in heck am I not doing??? What is a skew? Does Colwood make them? Oh me, I may have to concentrate on "smoothies".
Thanks,
Helen

[Paul_Guraedy]

Helen, it has been my experience that the lack of puffiness is because the carver is thinking in terms of feathers rather than feather groups. When you carve the breast feathers (most puffy) plan on "hills and valleys". Draw in lines that show the flow of feathers and then draw in some that contain groups of feathers. Carve down around the groups to make a valley, round the edges off to create a hill for several feathers. Now carve in the feathers and you will get the rolling effect of puffiness.

A skew is a chisel that may be sharpened on both sides (like a knife) and is angled so that one end is pointed. Some like the Gonzales tool even have a hook on one end.

[icarve2003]

Helen,

Yes, exactly what Paul said. I had that problem too and now I try to exaggerate the feather groups for a real puffy look. I concentrate on carving the feather groups and getting them looking good, then I go back and lay out the feathers in each group.

Here is a link to one of Lori Corbett's Demo's showing how to carve feather groups.

http://www.whisperingeagle.com/Conto...rTexturing.htm

Chris

[Old_Gord]

Hi Helen, when you ask "what is a skew" and mention Colwood in the same breath I think of pyrography, so the answer to your question is "Yes they do make them". Smile.

Cheers

OG

Originally Posted by Helen

I have books by Corbett, Guge, Daisey, etc. and for the love of me I can't duplicate the "puffiness" of the feathers that I see on these pages. They talk about channeling, flowing etc. and I just can't seem to do it. I have practised on blocks of tupelo, sanded them down and tried again. What in heck am I not doing??? What is a skew? Does Colwood make them? Oh me, I may have to concentrate on "smoothies".
Thanks,
Helen

[Helen]

What is the name of the Colwood skews? I've gone on the internet and they all have letters or numbers, but I don't know which one is a skew. Do they also have quill tips?

I really appreciate all the replies,

Helen

[Old_Gord]

Hi Helen, either "A" or "B" (removable) type tips are skews, one has a rounded tip the other sharp pointed, these two are refered to as "large" so there are other smaller sized similar shaped tips available. Smile
I'm not a bird carver so I really can't comment on what tips are available for quills or feathers, but I would think Colwood would have similar pyro pen shapes as other pyro pen manufacturers. Maybe one of the bird carver boys/girls will comment.Smile
Note you might consider moving any other comments/questions on pyrography down to the Pyro forum area...just a suggestion, maybe more comments would be forth coming.Smile.

Cheers.

OG

Originally Posted by Helen

What is the name of the Colwood skews? I've gone on the internet and they all have letters or numbers, but I don't know which one is a skew. Do they also have quill tips?

I really appreciate all the replies,

Helen

[Goody]

Its what happens when you burn yourself with a skew tip or is that redness and swollen.
Are you talking about puffiness in a single feather or groups. Anyway a lot is done to a feather before the burning to get softness or puffiness. I used to do alot of shaping with stones and diamond bits to hump up the feathers. If you can borrow a taxidermy mount to study it helps alot.
Goody