Nate Grace
Well-known member
I guess this could also be called an early picture Tuesday.
I had 3 sheets of cork out in the shed and a desire to make some Shang Wheeler-ish black ducks. I had been working on a high head pattern off and on for about 4 or 5 months. I'd sketch out a head and body pattern, stare at it for about a week or more, crumple it up and toss it, and then start again. Finally got it to where I like the profiles and think it will make a nice decoy. I wanted to maintain that Shang look, simple rounded lines, simple lines of the head with that Wheeler-like bill and thin neck. I cut 6 bodies and heads in all, and 2 sleeper/preeners. I modified a Hillman/Wheeler pattern a little by increasing the height of the back, widening the shoulders a little, and dropping the tail a bit. What do you think? Do these look remotely like Shang birds? Maybe hard to tell now, but in a couple of months I hope to get them finished carved and painted.
Nate
Here is the pile all together
Here is the high head bird.
I had 3 sheets of cork out in the shed and a desire to make some Shang Wheeler-ish black ducks. I had been working on a high head pattern off and on for about 4 or 5 months. I'd sketch out a head and body pattern, stare at it for about a week or more, crumple it up and toss it, and then start again. Finally got it to where I like the profiles and think it will make a nice decoy. I wanted to maintain that Shang look, simple rounded lines, simple lines of the head with that Wheeler-like bill and thin neck. I cut 6 bodies and heads in all, and 2 sleeper/preeners. I modified a Hillman/Wheeler pattern a little by increasing the height of the back, widening the shoulders a little, and dropping the tail a bit. What do you think? Do these look remotely like Shang birds? Maybe hard to tell now, but in a couple of months I hope to get them finished carved and painted.
Nate
Here is the pile all together
Here is the high head bird.
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