companion bird

MLBob Furia

MLBob Furia

Well-known member
This is the companion decoy for the wood duck drake I posted a short time ago. She is also a cork bird done with the "palm-frond" style, butt end. Base coated with tinted gesso tonight; texture coat next; then the fun starts as I try to figure out how to paint her.

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awesome bird, if you dont mind, how did you get the wing seperated from the body and is it going to be ruged enough for waterplay?

eddie
 
How did you get the wing separated from the body and is it going to be rugged enough for waterplay?

eddie
Click to expand...


Ed,

I carved it that way.

So far I haven't had any problems with drop-wing / wing out of pocket poses on my gunning corks. As I always say, "If they get dinged up during the season, I know the guy who can fix 'em."

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sorry i should have said that differently. what i meant was what tool did you use to get in that tight of an area, knives, foredom,?

eddie
 
oh and if that woodie didnt get me going you mallard and euro wigeon just blew me out of the water those are some wicked cork birds, how many hours in paint do you have on a mallard like that?

absolutly gorgezz
eddie
 
Ed,

Any outside-the-box pose always starts with planning & drawing a pattern that leaves plenty of material on the cutout to play with after the block is bandsawed.
I do a lot of drawing on the cutout and rough out areas like that with a detail knife. It has to be razor sharp to slice cork effectively. From there, I'll shape with rotary tools and finish sand. Different cutters depending on what has to be removed from where.

Actually, painting is the part I enjoy most (didn't used to be). I don't really worry about how long it takes - just so it captures what I want. Hens usually take the most time and effort.... them and the black ducks which are my favorites.

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Dang, Bob, [font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica][font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]beautiful[/font][/font] work. I personally don't think you carve or paint any of your birds. They look hatched to me.
 
Thank you all for the kind words. It's fun to post at a site where there are a ton of talented craftsmen and die-hard waterfowlers who understand the significance of making by hand any of "the ropes and the tools" of the game - be it boats, decoys, etc.
 
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