Woodcarving with Brian

Remove the wood in the shaded area to establish the inside of the legs.

Round the underside. 

Determine which leg you wish to use as the base and which leg you wish to have raised and outline them before you start to round the body any  further.    

  measuring from the tip of the tail on the bottom

                        to point A    65 mm

                             point B  105 mm

                             point C  134 mm

 from the head

                    to point D  100 mm

                         point E    19 mm 

between point B and D draw lines parallel to the centre line 

                      8 mm from centre line for inside of leg. 

                      25 mm from centre line for outside of leg

after creating a bevel by removing the wood from the shaded area, continue to round the top

Once you have cut out your blank draw a centre line and mark on the line some reference points.

Measuring:

from the tip of the tail

            to point 1   105 mm

                 point 2   125 mm

from the head

                point 3   75 mm

                point 4   45 mm

                point 5   15 mm

at the tip of the head measure 1/8 “ either side of the centre line and draw a line to the outside of the head at point 5

draw lines parallel to the centre line from point 4 to point 1 

remove the wood in the shaded area.

Proceed to round the top of the body

Trace top and side profile of the pattern onto a Basswood block measuring 2 1/2”x3 3/4”x9 1/4” as a reference for removing excess stock quickly with a band saw or coping saw 

Have been getting ready to present a 10 week seminar on carving and painting a miniature Ring-necked Pheasant with the Askennonia Woodcarving Group.

The idea of the project started in November, 2011 on my way home from Collingwood. I spotted several ring-necked pheasants in a field next to Flos 11 in  Springwater Township. I was one concession over from Tiny Marsh. My thoughts were they may have been part of a release program for the benefit of the outdoor sportsmen in the area as the reintroduction of the Ring-necked Pheasants into Ontario has not been very successful.  It was a special moment as they were watching me as much as I was watching them, heads up and on the run. I did get a chance to get a few photos before they were out of range.

It would be January before I decided to make the carving of the bird a good group project. After weeks of research and pattern development I am ready to go.

References:

Selected Bird Drawings by David Mohrrhardt pages 15 to 17

How to paint Game Birds by David Mohrrhardt pages 87 to 92

Realism in Wood – Book 2 by George Lehman pages 48 to 51

Wildfowl Carving Magazine –

Spring 2011 – Asian Import by Rick Burkman page 60

Colour guide and pattern by Jean  Minaudier page 68/69