Like most artists I welcome commissions, the more adventurous the species and pose the better. It does help if you have an idea of the position within your home where you might wish to display the finished bird so that it’s head position and angle can be optimized. I carve in several different sizes, from 33% of lifesize through 50% and 75% to full lifesize.
For waterfowl/wildfowl the pose I usually carve is waterline, as you can see from the gallery pages. However I do appreciate a challenge, and can carve standing birds or birds preening, sleeping or with wings outstretched. Please bear in mind that really adventurous poses will cost more than a standard pose; for example there is as much work in carving both sides of an outstretched wing as in a standard waterline bird.
I am occasionally asked to produce an unpainted bird and I am quite happy to do this. Female birds lend themselves well to this finish as they are predominately shades of brown in life, so the texturing process is modified and refined during carving to produce a soft feathery effect in several variations of this colour. In this situation I would normally paint the bill, for their colours are often species specific, and I would colour blend the eye-setting material in with the surrounding wood. The speculum of the bird, if exposed, can also be painted, for like the bill they are often species specific and may be a bright iridescent colour.
Songbirds and waders would be carved in lime with a core of brass or steel in the legs/feet. Sometimes it is necessary to hollow the body to achieve the required delicacy in the legs, especially if the bird is large and the pose either walking, or resting with one leg raised. When making the bases for birds I would normally use a close-grained hardwood and polish it, adding a small amount of suitable habitat; or sometimes I construct the habitat to be the base, a rock for example, to give a more natural look and making a polished base unnecessary.
To give an indication of prices of my carvings:
The examples below are from the more usual commission requests I receive.
Waterline waterfowl, in one of the normal poses for example, range from a Teal threequarters-lifesize £825 and lifesize £975, to an Eider threequarters-lifesize £1140 and lifesize £1355.
Waterfowl and birds of other species in more complex poses, standing for example, or standing and preening with one leg outstretched, range from around £1500. A standing lifesize Teal on a base with habitat would be £1920; a Barn Owl posed on a fencepost as shown on my website Home page would range from £2995 for threequarters-lifesize to lifesize £3750. A lifesize Kingfisher on a fencepost would be around £795.
Songbirds, such as a single Goldfinch or Firecrest, lifesize and perched on a branch or post for example, start from £750.
Any species of Waterline Miniatures can be created at half-lifesize and onethird-lifesize, using the same techniques as on the larger carvings. At 1/3 scale, a drake Pintail from tip of bill to tip of tail is 5″ / 12.6cm long and an Eider is 6″ / 15.2cm. Prices are subject to special quotation, being disproportionate due to the time necessary at the painting stage.
Once again, please bear in mind that, whatever the size chosen, really adventurous poses will cost more than a standard pose; for example there is as much work in carving both sides of an outstretched wing as in a standard waterline bird.
Quotations, written or emailed, have a validity of 60 days from date of sending.
I will mention an important guarantee that I give. If, upon receiving their commissioned carving, the customer decides it is not for them, they may return it for a full refund.