Whittling a comfort bird

 

I would like to be able to whittle-carve small wooden comfort birds that could be gifted to folk who might need them. Something I would like to do whilst in Scotland.

Comfort birds are small palm sized bird forms that can be held and give the holder a sense of calm, peace, hope etc.

I have watched a number of videos on how to whittle-carve such a bird. However, most videos indicate one would cut the rough bird form from a sanded or planed block of timber using a band or scroll saw - I have neither of those so I wanted to see if I could cut a rough form from a salvaged length of camphor laurel branch; and then finish the task with hand held knife and hand sanding. 

The opening photo shows the rough form I have achieved to date - including having done a bit of hand sanding to remove rough edges. The photo below shows the form marked up for knife work.

Following are some progress-process photos going from cutting a block out of the camphor laurel branch through to rough cut form before a bit of hand sanding. The hand sawing process took quite a while; but it is good to know one can take a reasonably low tech approach to the task

 

Over the weekend I hope to do some hand whittling. This has been a big learning process for me.

Beauty on an overcast morning

 

We are edging closer to autumn; and yet nature continues to astound with its beauty. 

This blog shares a few images from this morning's walk including the opening gem; an image of a torrential shower and one of a little visitor; and a few more of G's orchids which just seem to keep on giving.

This morning's walk....

The short sharp torrential shower; and little visitor after rain - looks a little bit bedraggled.

G's orchids.

May these wee fragments of beauty uplift us in these challenging times.

Back to ink painting experiments

 

As the title says I used my time with Megan on Thursday to try a few ink paintings - see opening photo. I was testing out the notes I made when I did some experimentation way back when!!!

First stages are taping the area to protect from the ink and doing the base sketches and marking up with pencil and permanent pen - below.

I intended to see how putting ink over a rough acrylic ink painting would go - I was aiming to get a ghostly image under the ink wash.

A few process photos follow including testing resist solution for the moon. Also I relearnt that it is important to clean the surface of the yupo paper with alcohol to remove fingerprint oil. I also need to find a suitable tool to swipe the ink wash across the work without leaving so many marks; and without using so much ink. Both the wide brush and balsa wood fail on both counts. 

A photo of the moon photo follows - after removing the resist I applied acrylic ink and then a drop of alcohol ink to ocular the moon.

The experiment of doing the rough acrylic painting was a fail - the ink over the painting virtually removed all the colour from the painting. I'm going to redo the painting with permanent ink pen and then do the over wash agin - will see how that works. Still I'm learning more as I go along.

Shiny things!!!!

 

Yes the above photo seems similar to one from a week ago; but I can assure you that many steps have been completed to take the rough products to this finished, polished shiny stage. 

The objects have had the back of their bowl sections planished on metal stakes; all edges ground and leaves and bowls shaped; and the pieces given three polishing - two by wheel (one brass wire wheel) and one by hand. They are now ready for their swing tags and market.

Some process photos follow.

A couple of the finished pieces.

In all there are 18 objects - half most likely will go to Scotland and half to Maleny Additions.

Bountiful beauty

 

A glorious blue sky morning for a longer walk; and so grateful to be uplifted by beauty this close to autumn.

Of course when you add G's orchids into the mix, including intriguing spider orchids, one simply has to be filled with wonder.

Just looking at the images makes me smile, thankful and reminded to hope.

Last 4 for Scotland

 

Today I think I have finished the last of the wee watercolours that I will take to Scotland for the possible couple of pop-up exhibitions. The two above were finished today; and the two below were finished on Thursday at Megan's watercolour group.

A few process-progress photos for the two opening works follow.

I will now finish the paperwork etc for the possible events.