Eagle Project

Follow along on this challenging carving project. It's the largest realistic bird for me todate, and to say I am slightly terrified would be an understatement. This is also a commission, therefore doing it right the first time is most important. The Bald Eagle (adult) will be 1/2 life size, coming in at around 40 cms in height (less base). For the past several weeks, I have been busy researching reference photos in everything from the internet to old wildlife calendars, to books, taxidermy mounts and live specimens found along the Bras D'Or Lakes near home here in Cape Breton.

I was able to use my PC to manipulate some close-up photos I took of a perched eagle and came up with patterns shown below. These were transferred to a choice piece of clean basswood I had in storage. By arranging the pattern I could just get away with using a 6"x6" block.  Fortunately, thats also the limit of my band saw as well so things are progressing.

 I will add some pics and commentary along the way. As well, I will add timely progress reports on my blog .   I hope you enjoy this project, feel free to leave comments by way of email , or through the blog.  

  These are the side and back profile patterns I made to use as the basis for the project.

 Ready for the BandSaw!!

I cut the back profile first. Note that I left a small "foot" in place near the head. I will leave the same near the bottom. This is so ensure the blank is level when I cut out the  side profile.

Once the blank is cut out, we are ready for some serious carving. Usually on a songbird, I would tackle the head, especially the beak, first off.  If you screw up on the beak, there's no point in continuing, the bird ain't gonna get any prettier! But on this project, I chose to start hogging away the corners first, giving the bird rounded shoulders, then defining the wings. Next I rounded the breast, began defining the tail, and released both legs.  Keep in mind we are not near the final contours or dimensions. I keep all edges to within several millimetres at this point until I am happy with the overall shape, curves and main body parts. The next few pics will show the progression.

Here I am taking 'oatmeal' sized chips off so as not to be too aggressive in an area which will get much attention later. Also, the knife was a good change from the usual large gouges.

End of a long session. I am please with the results so far. Next, I will start on the head/beak.

Another day and another carving session. I have narrowed the beak to near final dimensions. Also, since this is the weakest part of the entire carving, I have saturated the beak with super glue.  This will harden the wood considerably and hopefully avoid that gut-wrenching snap if I happen to bump the head while moving around. The only drawback with this is that later on in doing some finer detailing and using ruby and diamond carving burrs, or sandpaper, the glue will also sand off and the particulates are very irritating to the eyes once airborne.  A good dust collection system is imperative, coupled with safety goggles and dust mask just to be sure. 

Resaturated with glue once more, I will now let it dry and attack the rest of the head.

2010-07-11

Ok, so I ordered up a pair of premium glass eyes. Only going to refine the head from here just a little and won't touch it again until the eyes get here.

So for the past two days, I have concentrated on the other end of the bird. Namely, the tail and the primary wing tips. The longer retrice tips crossed over the tail and each had to be defined.

You can see I have thinned the tail group as well.

That done came the back, where I wanted to define the nape group of feathers, and the scapulars.  

Starting to look more regal at this point.

Today I worked on the tail feathers, both sides. I think they came out alright.

By the end of this days work, the tail is now burn ready.

2010-07-17

This past week has seen more progress on our project. It was time to begin outlining some feather structures, first on the wings, nape and scapulars regions, then move towards the underparts and up the breast. Only rudimentary efforts here for now, as there is much stoning and burning to come. The wing structures of an eagle is so complicated and massive they certainly caused some challenges.  It was at this point I wondered why I hadn't settled on a "smoothie" style, where the featherings are indicated by paint only!  But I wanted it realistic in every way.  The hours of effort continue to climb, as does the mercury outside.  I have fans going and a dehumidifier on track to keep things comfortable in the work area.  Here are this weeks' pictures once again in logical sequence.

The tertial feathers are so large, as with most of the other wing coverts. Each is defined in a not-so-uniformed pattern.

Then sanded down to create smooth rounded feathers.

First cut of the nape feather group.

Not a great picture, but the back of the bird is nearly completed at this defining stage. So much burning and stoning ahead!!

This is what I call "worm tracks".  With a diamond ball, small arcs are created to define feather ends. Looks like an old dead tree with worm tracks under the bark!

Then I smooth each feather with a ruby flame and finally some sanding with a tapered cone. No hard edges here, as the contour feathers of the underparts must flow softly into one another.

And we will begin the next weeks challenge of burning ans stoning.  As you can see, the glass eyes arrived in the mail as predicted. Now the carving comes to life it seems!  As we go further, it will now develop character as well.

July 24, 2010

Here we go again with an update. It has been a busy week both at and away from the carving bench. But progress was made nonetheless. The last picture above shows the bird ready for the fine detailing of the feathers - the burning in on the flight feathers (tail, wing primaries, tertials, secondaries and some secondary coverts) and the stoning and or stone/burn combinations of the contour feathers.  One mishap, my fixed tip long skew burning pen gave up on the project a third way through. Will have to send it for repairs, but I continued on with the short skew and it did the trick. A second near tragedy occurred when my handpiece was knocked off its resting spot with a blue ceramic cone attached. The cone suffered irreparable damage as it clanged its way to the concrete floor. Luckily, I have a backup white cone and quickly pressed it into service after trueing it up on a diamond plate.  So, hope you find this weeks progress inspiring and worth the wait. Feel free to leave comments or questions either on my blog page or by email .

Tail feathers burned using a Razertip unit and skew fixed tip pens.

Marking out the quills on the larger tertials and secondary coverts.

These feathers are then burned in.

Primaries done where they stick out and cross over. Underneath has to be done too!

Transition area, near bottom of nape. Gone to stoning to give softer feather texture.

Underside of tail and tail coverts completed. Looks tedious, and it is, but the results are worth every hour of progress.

Tools of the trade.

Burning around the eyes. Just short flicks is all it takes here, but be mindful of direction. Good reference photos are a must.

Good lookin' eagle!

Where's the paint??  Hopefully next week, we can begin painting in earnest. This has challenges all its own. I'll be using an airbrush for the main features, but my model (bought at a discount tool store) is not near fine enough for detailing with.  So, I will need a handful of good brushes as well. Wish me luck!

July 29, 2010

In the home stretch now!  I can see the finish, but first I must apply the finish - hope you'll pardon the pun.  The first coat is a good sealer, which in this case was a blast of Watco Lacquer.  I know the experts call for Deft, but I can't seem to find it in any local stores.  It has worked for me in the past - here goes again.  With that dried on goes a coat of watered down gesso.  I'm just following what I read and learned about birdcarving here folks, because my knowledge of paints wouldn't fill a thimble.   I read that gesso makes a good base for the colours to follow. I guess I have to agree, but damned if can see any difference.  Follow along on these next few pictures, which show some dramatic results, turning a wooden bird into - well, an eagle.  Once done, some work on the base is required then final touching up here and there. Should be ready in less than a week from now.

Gesso appllied.

Sorry, jumped ahead by about four applications of colour.   I was having so much fun with the airbrush that I forgot to take pictures along the way.  Anyhow, about 4 coats of white washes using acrylics did it for the head and tail.  The body though, needed some finesseing. Perhaps still does, but I'm satisfied.

Trying to blend some colours for realistic looking wings. Picture is overexposed and the colours aren't what they should be yet. It's the best I'm gonna get with a cheap digital!

Ok, getting real close now.  Best work on the base, which will be pine and walnut.  Humidity these days make it longer for everything to dry, so we will see you in a few days with the final project completion.