Swan

[William]

Hi Chuck, I used pictures from "Google-Images" of carvings and live birds but I did shorten the body some and make it a little thicker. The paint was very easy because almost all of the carvings found were completely white except for the one I used for the neck and head. It's a good thing too because after a year and a half I still can't paint worth a darn.
Edit to add "Here is where the pattern for the body came from.
http://www.mightylayoutboys.com/domi...nt=50&Expand=5

Thank you very much Mark, some of those things just happened but now that you have pointed them out I can see them. Hopefully one day I'll be able to carve something close to your wildfowl art but I have a long long way to go.

Bill
^v^

[mark yundt]

From where you are it's a short hop.Even if you keep the pieces simple,,regardless what you are carving ,,and can incorporate elements like you have,,that's the foundation I think to great carvings. Even if you add details up the yazoo,,a poorly designed piece will still fail regardless.Details only enhance a piece,,they don't make it..good design does,,,learn to see this and incorporate it in your pieces and you'll always have a pleasing design and a great piece of art..that's what it's all about,,line,,form ,,balance,,learn to look for and to see this in pieces,,it can only help.