Crow cane

[squbrigg]

Finished this crow cane today, finished carving anyway. Going to darken the shaft yet, maybe a Walnut stain, to match the handle. The handle is carved in Walnut and the shaft a Birch dowel.

I found the crow tough to photograph, difficult to get light on it correctly. Just ended up painting it plain black, I could never see shades in the colour of a crow, so Lamp Ebony Black it is!
Bob

[Thor]

Very nice as usual. I like crows, and this is a very good one.
Thor

[Ashbys]

Bob ,

We have both crows and Ravens here. Nice Crow head good looking cane.

For reference
The birds have have a blueish black beak , with a Black over blueish tinted under feather . When they twist in the sun , it gives a redish prism line to the feather edge of the bird.

Now the reason I know that is a crow. The beak is missing two things to be a raven . The first , Ravens beaks are curved and have a tuff where the beak joins the head.

Wonder why I know this.

Wel Done looking forward to seeing it finish another great job Mate. !

Garry

[AlArchie]

Really nice work, Bob! You've got that guy down perfectly.

For color, here's a couple shots I took last summer. There is some irridescent blues in the head, and even a touch of irridescent red (tiny), but I have never figured out how to paint those nuances, as it'd due not to actual pigment but refractions of light from the feather's vanes (is that the right term?)

Al

[slivers&dust]

You can add irridecent powders to your paint to get that look. like on the head of this Buffelhead.
When you paint black, or white, you can achieve depth by laying in undercolors and painting over the top with several light washes of B 0r W. Like on the back and tail in the pic.
JD Sprankle explains the process in one of his books.

oops
very nice job Bob. I like it

[Fishgap]

Oh man, I have to admit, I am jealous. Very well done Cola. mine mine!

[Irishman]

Bring that one along to the woodworking show tomorrow so I can get a first hand look at it. At least I'll know who you are if its on you. Very realistic crow and nice cane.
Patrick

[Marci MN]

I like!! I had to show that one to hubby.. he liked it alot too!

[Bartster]

bob,

nice looking cane cant wait to see it completed.

bart

[squbrigg]

Took your advice and played with the black some, adding blue's and an oil finish. Settled on painting the shaft to match the head, otherwise it just didn't look right, wasn't balanced for some reason. I like it better this way. Thanks for the tips.

Bob