Do look him up, he does some interesting stuff. The following has been taken from his web site
Welcome in the new Carving Lesson, step by step with pics
 |
 |
|
I prepare to carve a snowy owl life size, a project for some months. This is a summary sketch for the first cut. |
I used a summary sketch, is just for giving an idea for the
first cut, because the block past only in one side in the saw ....
|
 |
 |
|
This block with my kids, is in |
Because I don't carve this bird in my hand, I use old tips from Bruce Buck,a hard wood. |
 |
 |
| I just fix the support under the bird with some screws, and I put it in a bench. |
This is the first view of the drawing, I'll carve the owl with the left open wings, and the head turn to the right, over the shoulder |
 |
 |
| I draw directly on the wood, the top of the head, for cutting it with the chain saw |
In the first hours of this piece, I work with a chain saw and a grinder with a sand paper of 24Grit |
 |
 |
|
I cut the head near the first drawing, but remember to keep enought wood for the next step |
This is another view, remember the level is the table, it the only reference you have, always keep the saw vertival. |
 |
 |
|
On the first pics, you can saw some line, the most important is in the middle of the body, for a good symetric bird |
Now I begin the carving with the grinder, I just give round the body and prepare to find the bill and the head. |
 |
 |
| I begin with the most biggest piece with the head, when the head is located, I pass to the body. | 16 Other view, with a temperature around -10C. |
 |
 |
| I work outside because the grinder is too | On this one you can see the place for the wings and the very round head. |
 |
 |
| Now the head is found, I don' t give more detail for now, I wait until I get into the studio. | I begin to find the wings. |
 |
 |
| Other side, you can see the shoulder and the open wings | Other view from the front |
 |
 |
| Now I think you can see the bird ..... After few hours only | I try to give the better shape as possible and I 'll pass more hours with the design of the feather and the painting, remember the better shape you have the better carving you have. |
 |
 |
| A view to the future open wing | Now I prepare the wings and the under tail. |
 |
 |
| Other view from the wing, keep enough wood, on the body. I keep 0.25inch of wood, near the tail and the wings, 1 inch. | The last view from the winter work |
 |
 |
| I prepare the head for setting the eyes | The eyes of a owl is very big and difficult to place symmetrically, take care |
|
 |
| The first view with the base | I try to carved out side in the spring, near my pond. |
 |
 |
| The most important part for me is the eyes, the look. The more successful the eye, the better your bird look | I prepare to carve the rocks and the base |
 |
 |
| Now after many hours on labour, you can see the bird on the base, the mounting is 37 inchs high | I begin to carve the feathers on the head |
 |
 |
| This is the texturing before the burning | With this one you can see all the feathers finished ready for burning |
 |
 |
| A close up on the face and the eye | The secondaries and primaries |
 |
 |
| The scapulars and the cape, You have a impressionof the feathers being blown up |
The burning on the face disk |
 |
 |
| A very close up on a feather, Normally, I burn over 100 lines in an inch | The underlining on the wing |
 |
 |
| The open wing, you can see the carving detail with the light | This is the point I use for the burning, I use detail master and colwood |
 |
 |
| Now the burning is finish. | Another view |
 |
 |
| Another view | I'll paint this bird with acrylic, I use Jo Sonja's . Normally I don't use gesso with Teekay' s but with this one I have and have saved a coat of paint. |
 |
 |
| This is the view on the first painted wing and the breast. I forgot to take picture to the wing after the first coat , but the breast is only with gesso | Part view on the final piece |
 |
 |
| After many hours of works, on many months | Now with this pictures , you know all the steps of a wildfowl carving |
 |
 |
| I' m very happy to the result | Now it the time for shipping |