Raven

[stave]

This has been sitting around my shop for months now. Can't decide whether to add more feather details on the wing or not...something just isn't finished. So it has been percolating on the bench. It is carved from basswood and is approximately 12" x 15".

Any comments are welcome.

Mark
www.stromcarver.com

[jdbcarving]

You have done a good job on feathers so far, I would continue and finish the rest of the bird.
Jim B

[Curtscarving]

Looks like you did a great job to me

[AlArchie]

I agree with Jim, finish the shoulder area. Great work at this point!

Al

[Bob K.]

Great job so far, but I also would finish the feather detail.

[Mottles]

I can see why your aren't sure it's quite finished yet.......you could go either way with it. If it were my relief I'd finish the feathers to complete the shoulder.
Kathy

[Merle Rice]

Yep Mark it's unanimous it's not finished till you feather the Wing. That's why you think something is missing. What you have done so far is outstanding, Great Detailing. Looking forward to seeing the finished piece. Merle

[Robson Valley]

I looked at the bird. I saw Raven. Didn't even notice the lack of detail on the shoulder. May I suggest that whatever you decide to do, if anything, it doesn't detract from the majesty of the head.

[stave]

Thanks for the input here. I carved some detail in the wing once and didn't like it and removed it. Maybe I will try another method and see how it works out. Wanted the focus to be on the head of the bird so maybe a suggestion of feathers would be best.

Mark

[Robson Valley]

My ravens are (to some) quite grotesque caricatures of the real birds which live around me all year.
Head, beak, wing. Hardly ever see feet, the bodies are shrouded by wing. The primary flight feathers are big and also obvious in flight. I don't think that I carve more than deep relief suggestions of 10(?) wing feathers. As I painted the Raven black, it didn't photograph at all well do my rendering is hard to see (The Raven Project).

Today is really cold & windy, the ravens are showing off their flight skills.