[pdxnate45]

Thank you Mark!

Your eagle is magnificent, and the picture you attached of your friend's eagle is also spectacular. Unfortunately, I haven't a picture of the eagle I mentioned, but just posted a couple in my gallery of a peregrine falcon I carved for a friend some years back, in Alaska. Having mostly concentrated on detailed decoy carvings, I have always welcomed the opportunities to try new species and styles of bird sculpture, and am now looking forward to trying some sculptures of mammals, as well. But there is no end to the things that one can carve, and I'm always anxious to try new subjects and work in different woods. One such dream has been to do a full-sized common loon in ebony, with silver and mother-of-pearl inlays for the spots, and synthetic gems for the eyes, but I'm sure the ebony alone would cost a fortune to buy, and then comes the concern about what to work on it with! I suppose all carvers have some "ultimate dream" for that one project of a lifetime that goes beyond all others. I guess I have two -- the lifesize eagle, wings spread in protection of his newly caught salmon on a stony river beach, and the loon -- may I live so long as to do either one! But I need to keep at it on more "doable" works, rather than daydream of the "big" ones. Thanks for your reply, and I'm looking forward to following the progress on your eagle and seeing your other works on this site. Also checked out your gallery and website, and am very impressed with your other work, as well -- reminds me of the works I saw in Chatsworth House, in England, by Grinling Gibbons. There, they had a piece he had carved of a lace ascott, whose detail was so delicate and realistic that it was once actually worn, in place of the real thing, at some high-society function in his time. He did a lot of architectural carvings in the great houses of England, and I'm sure you are aware of his work.

Thanks again for the inspiration!

Nate

[mark yundt]

Ahhh,, a carver after my own heart,,,YES , I do know the ascot you are referring to,,just incredible!There were also ones done just like it in marble,,don't remember the artist off hand,,Oh to have that kind of talent!

[Ashbys]

Mark,
It is comming along great. The cat is proof she is just trying to figure out when it will become lunch !

lol

[mark yundt]

Gary,,(Ashby) ,,if she only knew that if this thing was for real,,SHE'D be the one for lunch! The actual birds have been known to take small deer,,my cat would merely be an appetizer.

[mark yundt]

O.K.,,,got the first burn done,,now to reverse it and do the second to separate the feathers.At least that part goes faster and is a bit interesting.Boy,,this stuff is boring and time consuming,,now I remember why I don't do birds anymore,,there are better ways to make a living ,,,but then again ,,I'm giving this one away.Something along the lines of a sparrow or chickadee might be more fun,,,but MAN,,,there are alot of feathers on this puppy! A day just for the first part of the back,,,used to carve and finish a whole song bird in a day!Why couldn't their mascot be the Hummingbirds????The chest and belly I'll texture then burn,,hopefully that'll go faster,,,,,,yeah,,right,,doubt it...HA!Not doing the head and neck yet as I use that as a "handle" and don't want to mess that part up.Plus I plan on making my own eyes...now that's always fun.

[doris]

:-) yes lots of patience needed, i can see many many little strokes... coming along nicely though, so keep at it. :-) ...is fun to watch... i once learned here that burning is used to show detail when you paint a carving, and to prevent flow colors into each others...does this mean you go to paint it ? and, if not, how are you plan to finish?

[squbrigg]

You are doing a superb job on the feather work Mark. Yes, it is repetative, but it is what makes a bird stand out from the ordinary once it's done. I am enjoying watching your progress, thanks for taking the time to show us.

How are you going to make the eyes?

Bob

[Anthony Filetti]

Fantastic carving Mark! Keep on posting pics, we are enjoying every post!

[mark yundt]

Yes Doris ,I am going to paint it to look real.In this case though the burning is to make the feathers,not so much to control the flow of paint.From my understanding some carvers use the burning on some carvings to block out areas to control colors and paint ,here it is simply texture to add to the realism.

Yes Bob,,,it has to be done,,but I feel like I spend hours and don't get anywhere LOL. I'll make the eyes out of a dowel and some plexiglass.I started making them about 15 yrs ago when I did nothing but birds.These eyes aren't that unusual,basically just brown,,glass would work just fine,,but I just feel like making them for fun.Don't plan on making very many birds in the future so just have fun with this one and play.

[sludgeguy]

Spectacular work Mark,

The time is in the details but the details are what make it worth while.
I, as you, are ready to see the piece completed. It'll be beautiful.
Thanks for sharing,
Doug