Any advice?

[Mudbone]

Paul does any brand of that 2 part putty work? I have used JB Weld for eyelids and just painted, but did not want to burn it thinking would be bad. Also I see your point, and I really wanted the comments as I am still learning. Being that most of what I get around to carving ends up in my office at work, I felt the need to try to get it right (as best I can) or get the "what the heck is that, a rat?" comments by some of my jokester co-workers. I guess there is no wrong in art though.. I think yours carvings look fantastic, and real!!

[Paul_Guraedy]

The brand that I use most is Quikwood, although I have used Apoxy and one other that I don't remember the name. All seemed to work equally well. I once bought a roll of two part epoxy putty (JB Weld?) at an Auto Supply place for repairing something in my brother's motorhome. It smelled the same as Quikwood and worked equally well....did not carve or burn it; but suspect it is the same stuff (black and white instead of brown and white).

I have used the Quikwood for eye rings, talons, repairs, to hold inserts and will soon be using it to make the toes and talons on a falcon. I could just do the talons, but think the toes are too close to the bottom of the carving. I am going to cut them off and reshape that part of the foot before adding the talons.

I know what you mean about comments on your carving. I was once carving a hawk and another carver said something about my dove. He did not appear to be kidding but I did learn that he was not a bird carver!! That Harris Hawk bust is the bird carving that folks comment on the most and, so far, it has not been mistaken for a dove.....again!

[Benjamin]

Those otters are looking good Paul. Thanks for the pictures. Benjamin