I am a novice woodworker that dables in wood carving. My most recent addiction is wood fan carving. More specifically, wood fan bird carving. It all started when I saw Glen Van Antwerp (a fellow Michigander) on the Woodwright's Workshop displaying his talents. I was hooked ever since. The ideal wood to use is Northern White Cedar. Unfortuneately, that species is not abundant in the Detroit metro area. I have been experimenting and finding that Western Red Cedar, Spruce, and certain types of pine are good woods. I am hoping to periodically post pictures to share with anyone who is interested. Enjoy!
Steps to getting some of my blanks to make the birds. I use a hatchet to pop out a chunk, then trim it down. I then use a draw knife to get the thickness I desire.
The Hummingbird and flower are one piece. I little more challenging to make. Flower stem, leaves, and base are separate pieces glued together. This piece is 1 of 4 that turned out.
This bird is made from northern white cedar from my new supplier from northern Michigan. You can really see the natural beauty of the wood,I am getting the hang of a more natural look for the hummingbird.