Need help with owl carving. Please

[Inspired by God]

Hi to all and thanks in advance for any help. I have been asked to carve 2 owls from some Shagbark Hickory and I am having a little trouble finding just the right pattern for them. They need to be about 2 feet tall + or - the branch they are sitting on. I plan to wood burn some of the details in, but for the most part they will be left in a natural finish. A great Horned Owl, Spotted Owl or some Screech Owls would be perfect. I am fairly new to carving birds so any and all help would be greatly appriciated. Thanks again for any and all help.

[Paul_Guraedy]

You are going to have to enlarge any pattern you do find. At 2' tall you are pushing the outside limits on even the largest of the owls. I assume that you are looking for something realistic?

Owls are actually fairly simple to put into a pattern, if you just want them sitting on a limb. They are real smooth and fairly simple to rough out. Not so simple to carve when it comes to the face and, with owls, that is everything.

My recommendation would be to get some photos of owls (lots available in books and magazines at the library). A little experimentation will allow you to draw in the basic (shape) pose you need. On something this large, old grocery bags work well. Cut out your pattern and put it on the wood.

From there on everything is in the carving and the pattern is soon carved away and useless anyway.

Also, A search on this forum for patterns will give the names of several supply sources. I am sure some will include owls.

[Hugh-P]

Might try Stiller Patterns, they have an online site