Hello fellow carvers

[mr carver]

Hi folks. I am a new carver and I am new to this forum. I am retired now at the age of 65. I would like some advice on the carving of Mallard Duck heads. Here are some of my stick carvings. Hope you don't laugh at them, I am only carving 6 months ! Your comments are welcome.

I hope to become more actively involved in the forum to help progress my carving hobby.

Thanks

Mr Carver

[Bob K.]

Welcome to the forum. Nothing to laugh at...I think those are excellent! I'm not a bird carver so I can't help but I'm there are several carvers here that can.

[Dan Wegiel]

Welcome Mr Carver,
Excellent work! They're both something to be proud of, I'm a tad partial to the phesant. Sorry I can't help you either, love to carve but can't explain what I do and from looking at the pics you don't need help anyway. Thanks for sharing and look forward to seeing more from you.
Dan

[Tommy Taylor]

Haven't tried but a couple of things and a bird isn't one of them yet but I agree with Dan.Was curious what kind of wood it was on the one on the right ,next to last picture because I love that wood grain in it.Very nice job and welcome to the forum.

[Northwest29]

Welcome! I think those sticks look really nice. I know that I could't do a mallard head that looked that nice. Keep up the good work. Where are you located?

Ron

[ochiba]

Nice work mr carver,
i like the feathering on the pheasant head. The eyes on a male pheasant are a greyish white, while on a female they are light brown.Try downloading as many mallard pics of heads from all angles
including directly above.You can edit these pics in Windows Paint to create workable patterns to cut out and transfer onto wooden blanks then rough out with a bandsaw.

regards Norm Reeves.

[Mark Dellinger]

Hello and welcome. Nothing to add to what the others have said. You are doing fine. There are a lot of bird carvers here that you can check out their carvings and I am sure discuss and ask questions to. Keep up the great work.

Safe Carving and God Bless,

Mark

[DiamondWillow]

Greetings, and congrats on the duck and pheasant carvings. You are doing fantastic on the birds. Keep up the good work, I really like them. The pheasant especially is great. Everything on the duck looks great also. If I had any comment it might be on the bill of the duck. While I am not familiar with the Tufted Duck, most duck bills, not all, are wider at the end area than what they are at the head. We bird carvers tend to make them look like a regular bird where they kind of come to more of a point towards the end, and in fact they are wider at the end. See if you can find some over head shots of the duck to check out the width of 2 ends of the bill. Now remember the Tufted Duck might be different, in that case please excuse me for the comments. Otherwise, the head looks just great and you should be proud. In fact, very proud considering you have only been carving 6 months.
You done good.........
Gene

[Boydman]

Just a few comments, it's been awhile since I carved a mallard....so, from looking at the photo's I would suggest that the eye be deeper into the head.....cheek a bit more pronouced. Maybe a bit more for the pheasants eye....also. For only carving for six months I would agree with folks that you have made a great start........thanks for sharing. Look forward to seeing your next duck. I have a few carvings in my gallery...one is a cast of a mallard. Good luck,

Greg

[idigjars]

Hello and welcome. I like your carvings. Thank you for sharing them with us. Paul