Four birds on three sticks

[dnstehly]

I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the things that I have just finished for the fall show season. The 1st pic is a design I call Two Hawks. The head on top of the stick is carved full while the one at mid stick shows only the front of the head and runs back into a bit of remaining bark. In both cases the beaks are carved from the remaining nubs of side branches. The hawks are red-tails and the wood is red maple also called swamp maple. Pic 2 is an American Black Vulture (can't just carve pretty birds) and again the beak is a remaining side branch. The wood is silver maple. Pic 3 is a Peregrine Falcon carved in hop hornbeam again using a side branch for the beak. In this case I was able to retain bark in the grip area and have the head emerge from the bark. That's a technique I like to use for bird heads when I can rely on the bark adhering firmly after the piece is finished. For all three pieces the paints are acrylic, the shafts are natural, and the final finish is a dull alkyd resin varnish. Critique welcome.

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Very nice you are a very skilled carver dnstehly, keep it up.
Carl

[Merle Rice]

Very realistic, Excellent Carving and Painting. Good idea on using the Branch Nub for the beak. Good Luck at Show. Merle

[Ron T]

Hello David. Thanks again for posting photos of your wonderfully carved sticks. These raptors are very beautiful.

[cannuckcarver]

Denis, stop this you are making me....lol...buddy your are GOOD....
Thanks so much for sharring.

[Joy]

Thank you for sharing. The feathers look like they would be soft to the touch. Amazing detail and realism.

[tnartist05]

Not only can you carved such details as scales on snakes but your feather work on your birds are also EXCELLENT!! Wow what a carver you are!! Nice idea with more than one bird on a stick plus your painting is very realistic. Forrest

[dnstehly]

Thanks for the kind words folks. Coming from all of you makes it special.

[Ron T]

David, how do you apply the acrylic paints? It blends so well it almost looks airbrushed. When I apply acrylics, they look blotchy and have hard edges where the color ends. I've tried dry brushing the edges buy can't seem to manage the technique yet.

[RUssL.]

Outstanding!

Russ