WIP Male Cardinal

Marc Barger · #1 09-03-2006, 05:47 PM

Just thought I would post a couple pics of a cardinal I'm working on. Tupelo gum. I think he looks mad but that's what I wanted cause I'm going to name it "Cardinalasaurus". HA! Well maybe not but wanted him big and fluffed up and like a 'bull' Cardinal. Not some little weinie. ha ha He'll be sitting on an old weathered cedar rail fence that I look forward to carving. Sorry for the low quality pics but the digital is taost and I took these with the 35MM and had them put on a cd. Might not seem like a good excuse...but it's what I'm using.

AlArchie · #2 09-03-2006, 06:49 PM

Beautiful work, Marc! Can't wait to see him painted.

Al

jax · #3 09-03-2006, 10:44 PM

Marc

Great carving!

Jax.

squbrigg · #4 09-04-2006, 07:53 AM

That looks like one really P.O'd cardinal! Great job! Can't wait to see the finished product.

Bob

Thor · #5 09-04-2006, 08:00 AM

Wonderful to see it in this stage! Do you use micro tools to get the texture in the wings so perfect? I am not familiar with the techniques of carving birds and feathers, but may grow into it seeing the wonderful works on this board. Will you use wood burning techniques for definition? It doesn't seem to need it. The carving is so detailed. He does look kind of angry like the one here when the squirrell runs him out of the feeder.
Glad to see it, and look forward to watching you finish it.
Thor

Marc Barger · #6 09-04-2006, 09:48 AM

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

Yep it still needs to be burnt for more detail. I know the trend these days is to just stone some areas and then paint but I like to burn all areas. Hard for me to not put in the extra detail it affords.

I use a variety of tools and burrs to get the detail before burning. After the basic form and shapes and feather groupings are created a lot of it's done with a little rougher stone that's shaped to a small pointed round. This really just burnishes whatever it touches instead of removing material, so in essence is smoothing the surface so no sanding is required. I do very little sanding on any areas. To me it seems like a waste of time with the stoning process and burnishing.

Will post more pics in a few days.

Hugh · #7 09-04-2006, 10:15 AM

You do some very nice work Marc, don't forget to post it when its finished. Very characteristic of the Male Cardinal. Thanks

Ashbys · #8 09-04-2006, 10:32 AM

Really Nice !

The look is great , and I love the puffed up look , I saw this a lot this year .

Looking forward to seeing this

Ash

Eleanor · #9 09-05-2006, 03:27 PM

Such beautiful feathering, your patience & skill is an inspiration...sigh...