White-Crowned Sparrow, (Johan's Yellowhammer)

[birder]

Originally Posted by N96HBK

Incredibly beautiful work, the watercolour details are stunningly flawless.

Thank you

[birder]

Next part, forming the wings and tail. The wings are 2 part in my version but one on the Yellowhammer, there are cutouts in the white part that add some curve to these parts, the back to simplify I've just drawn on the feathers there, this makes it thinner which I think is ok but mainly due to easy way to color there which isn't closely visable. I used watercolor but then had to be sure had still formed to the same shape. The tail I've separated 2 feathers on the upper side in the center and 2 outer on the lower, I really think this looks convincing that way. Moving on to the perch, picked up a plum stick to look at for ideas for the way it might look, started rolling some cylinders to attach to each other with CA glue used pretty liberally to make strong final branch, then paint with acrylic paints.

[Michael Mash]

Enjoying seeing the White Crowned Sparrow coming together piece by piece.
Looking very realistic in photo 0355.

[birder]

Thanks again Mike It is quite interesting to see the shape of the body take form as is nearly spherical, and surprisingly realistic because of the design of the original models by Johan Scherft is very good.

[birder]

The legs and feet seem overly simple, but they are pretty realistic with some positioning. I redrew the feet and legs, more like Johan's other birds perching on branch, the kinglet and the wren. I test built feet quite a bit to get a similar result for this bird as I wanted to position it perched also.
A couple pictures of the process, scored at the lines I put in and folded over a wire that is pretty bendable and glued in place with CA glue. The feet do need to be glued to the perch. attaching them to the bird was pretty easy, but positioning the bird in a realistic way would be challenging for lots of builders, as the balance of the bird has to appear correct. That is not as big an issue for me likely due to the taxidermy Ive done in my earlier days. and may years of drawing them. Recently I mounted up a Pintail, but had not done any birds for 20 years....

It is dark and snowy here today so not great lighting but some pictures of the completed bird and branch.

[AlanG]

Glen


That is stunning. I have enjoyed making up some of Johan's models recently, but your ability to paint so intricately as well as make them up so well bowls me over. Do show us more.


Alan

[Bob Penikas]

HA!

Very timely as this hawk on our goose posed just an hour ago.



BP

[Vermin_King]

Very nice work, Glen.


Bob, you must not be near a wind farm. Since they started building these wind farms, our number of hawks has noticeably dipped. Nice photo

[Michael Mash]

Another superb creation Glen, with a touch of autumn color.
I think paper is very well suited to replicate feathers, beaks, etc.
It is light and thin . . . so much in common with the parts of the bird.

[Don Boose]

It's really beautiful, Glen!

I am on the lookout for white crowns in among the back garden white throats. No joy yet.

Don