Carved Birds

All these birds pictured here are just some of what I have caved. My journey with carving birds came after I had a request to carve a blue wren in 2020. From there my repertoire of carved birds has grown substantially and so has my ability. I have learnt along the way what timber is better to carve and what looks better when carved. My painting of them has come along as well, blending a lot myself to match the birds colourings and using colours that you wouldn't really think was within the feather colours but make a huge difference when added to the painting of them.

Initially, I started out using pallet wood as it was free and available, and even suitable. However lately I have noticed with the pallet wood, the thickness is diminishing and not really suitable anymore. I still keep an eye open though just in case. Nothing better than reusing and recycling!

I collect all of my reference photos for each side of the bird, front, back, sides, top of head, wing area and beak. Then use these to draw a side view that I can cut out on the bandsaw. I tend to be overjealous with cutting the back so tend to stick with roughing out the back view with chisels instead. The detail carving begins after the wood has been cut out which I use chisels. The finer work I tend to work with the power tool.

I use the pyrography tool to add more detail before painting , especially if it is difficult to carve, like around the eyes and some feathers.

The paint I use is Jo Sonjas acrylic gouache, the white wax is Dormans.

For some of the birds like magpies I make the feet using wire. Some birds like the wrens and Willy wagtails they really don't need feet so I leave them without. I have recently carved owl feet which turned out pretty well.

To mount them I put all of them onto natural branches that I find out in the paddock. The branches cant be too big or too small as they would look out of proportion. I use nails that have been embedded , then cut off to act as feet and or stabilize the bird.

There are many more birds and work in progress pictures on my Facebook and Instagram pages.

Theresa's Treasures at Derrymore

https://www.facebook.com/derrymore

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https://www.instagram.com/treasures_at_derrymore


There are more videos on my You tube channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxouxcccdDY8BKCb6tCYzGA


Superb fairy Wren

Hand Carved from reclaimed timber and painted with Jo Sonjas paints and sealed using a white wax for protection.

#treasuresatDerrymore #bluewren #carved #carvedwren ##superbfairywren

Pair of Australian Magpies

The Magpies are hand carved from pallet wood and painted and then sealed with white wax. I have mounted them on a natural branch and the base is a slice of a burl. the feet are made from wire. more info and photos on my social pages.

#TreasuresatDerrymore #magpie #carvedmagpie #woodenmagpie #handcarvedbird

Pair of Superb Parrots

Endangered Superb parrots are only situated in a small area and we are lucky to see them constantly. I was asked to recreate a pair early on in my bird carving journey.

#handcarved #carvedbird #superbparrot #carvedsuperbparrot #TreasuresatDerrymore

Willy Wagtail

waiting to dry

#Willywagtail #carvedbird #handcarved #carvedwillywagtail #TreasuresatDerrymore

Blue Wren

one of the first groups of wrens to be carved and painted

#Superbfairywren #carvedbird #carvedwren #woodenbird #TreasuresatDerrymore #wren

Owls

just finished main carving need a little tidying up still

#owl #carvedowl #carvedbird #woodenowl #TreasuresatDerrymore

Pelican


Pair Kookaburras


Mum and babies, magpies


Pair Alexandrine Parrots


Pair Superb Parrots


Generic Owl


The Rooks

Front

#Rooks #carvedbird #carvedrook #TreasuresatDerrymore

Rooks Rear view


Side view


These birds are of the same family as the crows and ravens. Their feathers are large and bold and i wanted to show this in my carving of them. I am extremely pleased at how they have come out. getting to know the feather configuration was difficult and a few mistakes were done in the process