always sketching birds of prey so thought id try my hand at sculpting one from steel.This is my first effort that im half way through. about 12 hours work so far with probably the same to finish. I will get it galvanised when done. Bought a sheet of 1mm brushed stainless for my next effort
- Thread starter shirazman
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chunkolini
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Hmm cant think of anything to say.
Wow, thought you would try your hand.
Hand well and truly tried.
You have confidence and ideas and know what you are after.
Completely original.
Fantastic stuff.
I bet you are self taught.
Chunko'.
Wow, thought you would try your hand.
Hand well and truly tried.
You have confidence and ideas and know what you are after.
Completely original.
Fantastic stuff.
I bet you are self taught.
Chunko'.
outofthefire
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What Chunko says +1, a sculpture of a Heron is on my to do list I hope I can get it half as good as your eagle
Hi, thanks for your comments, appreciated very much. To be honest ive never ever thought i could do anything in 3D sculpture so never bothered trying. I just sketched the bird out with chalk on my bench, saw some round bar and thought what the hell im gonna give it a go.. surprised myself really he he. You got some great ideas and work on your site.. love the men climbing the wall.. reminds me of the scene in I robot where they all climb up the building. Ive got a sheet of 1mm brushed stainless with patterns on the upside so my next project plan is a huge dragonfly.. the stainless being perfect for the wings. Do you make a living from sculpture? Ive been offered cash for my eagle already but not sure if i wanna sell
Many thanks, Ramsay
Many thanks, Ramsay
strube1369
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Very very cool! Can't wait to see the finished product.
chunkolini
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Shirazman you have been offered cash for it, that is a good start. Have you been offered enough cash?
Yes I do this stuff for a living, a little hobby that got out of control. Initially I figured if it nearly pays for itself a self financing hobby has to be a good thing. Any income was stashed to pay for tools and materials, then a push bike and holidays, then a motorbike, Then six years back I was having a hard time in my old job as a care worker so I walked out to see what would happen.
Looking at your eagle you obviously have an affinity with the materials and the subject. Keep us posted as to progress. Can we have some detail shots of the head and feet.
Yes I do this stuff for a living, a little hobby that got out of control. Initially I figured if it nearly pays for itself a self financing hobby has to be a good thing. Any income was stashed to pay for tools and materials, then a push bike and holidays, then a motorbike, Then six years back I was having a hard time in my old job as a care worker so I walked out to see what would happen.
Looking at your eagle you obviously have an affinity with the materials and the subject. Keep us posted as to progress. Can we have some detail shots of the head and feet.
pedrobedro
Man at Matalan
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It must be good, the dog looks quite worried 
Very nice effect on the wings, almost a shame to cover it with galvanising.
Very nice effect on the wings, almost a shame to cover it with galvanising.
you can also highlight bits by "Tinning" it with braise and you get a nice contrasting golden yellow, once nicely patinated - anchor wax!It must be good, the dog looks quite worried
Ye ive changed my mind about galv. I left it out in the rain last night to see the colour and it is perfect. so gonna rust it and wax oil it
chunkolini
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Have a go with varnish on a rusty piece of metal.
I have used ordinary Satin finish yacht varnish very succesfully and it has lasted a couple of years before needing topping up. A good thing is that you just have to wash it and slap on another coat. It gives an interesting finish that changes dramatically according to the light, from brown to an almost metallic bronzey look.
I have also used gloss varnish but found it a bit shiny for me, but some people liked it.
A finish pioneered by Sir Anthony Caro who made a few bits of rusty ironwork. http://www.anthonycaro.org/
I think the rust acts as a key and the varnish can be worked into the surface, it is worth gently brushing the loose rust off first.
Edit, here's one I did earlier, this is my Diatom sculpture rusted and varnished with a satin finish.
I have used ordinary Satin finish yacht varnish very succesfully and it has lasted a couple of years before needing topping up. A good thing is that you just have to wash it and slap on another coat. It gives an interesting finish that changes dramatically according to the light, from brown to an almost metallic bronzey look.
I have also used gloss varnish but found it a bit shiny for me, but some people liked it.
A finish pioneered by Sir Anthony Caro who made a few bits of rusty ironwork. http://www.anthonycaro.org/
I think the rust acts as a key and the varnish can be worked into the surface, it is worth gently brushing the loose rust off first.
Edit, here's one I did earlier, this is my Diatom sculpture rusted and varnished with a satin finish.
Last edited:
:steel eagle slow progress
decided to "feather" the bird. A long slow process but so far quite effective. Its gonna take a lot of time to complete but I want to try and get it looking as good as i can. Ive not had much time on it lately as after 10 hours of welding and fab a day i tend to head home for the big chair in front of the telly but should get this weekend at it
decided to "feather" the bird. A long slow process but so far quite effective. Its gonna take a lot of time to complete but I want to try and get it looking as good as i can. Ive not had much time on it lately as after 10 hours of welding and fab a day i tend to head home for the big chair in front of the telly but should get this weekend at it
chunkolini
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That is looking fantastic.
The feet and beak are superb.
The feathers look great. I know that feeling, this will look good, oh lordy how much of it do I have to do.
Try and keep an eye on the number of hours involved then to ignore it.
How are you marking the legs? plasma gouging?
Do keep us posted on this project.
The feet and beak are superb.
The feathers look great. I know that feeling, this will look good, oh lordy how much of it do I have to do.
Try and keep an eye on the number of hours involved then to ignore it.
How are you marking the legs? plasma gouging?
Do keep us posted on this project.
Angusdog
Well-meaning amateur
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Outstanding! My uncle used a similar technique with welding rods to create the bristles on a wild boar - takes time but the end result is well worth it.
<Had to edit is as my comments were nearly identical to Chunkolini's simultaneous post...>
<Had to edit is as my comments were nearly identical to Chunkolini's simultaneous post...>
Hello again,
Ignore the legs.. they are coming back of.. for the third time. Ive restructured them by going to a picture rather than my imagination. I was never happy with them but yes by using the plasma cutting tip, not gouging. If you turn down the amps to about 35 and quickly run the tip over the metal you get a fantastic effect. I did that on the head and it looked really good but then i thought what the hell ive got plenty of time so im gonna detail it. All the "feathers" you see are very small individual pieces of 1mm i cut and tacked on... rather time consuming and hot fingertips through the gloves but i like the look. I tried cutting them in strips but just not a natural enough look.
I started counting hours but you are right, ignore the time because i reckon as im enjoying it it really doesnt matter. I will post a few more pics after the weekend stint
Speak soon
chunkolini
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Shirazman
Top tip here. Any bits you dont like, dont bin them, chuck them in a box, they get used in the end. I have an amputee clinic with spare arms, hands, feet and heads in it. It's great when you can pluck a finished component out of the box with no work involved.
Stick with it.
Can I be a cheeky monkey and reccomend a book to you
The Thames and Hudson Manual of Direct Metal Sculpture, a bit out of date but an inspiring read.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manual-Dire...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331839905&sr=1-1
Quite cheap at the moment at a tenner, price goes up and down like a yoyo.
The section on mounting and displaying your work had a massive effect on me. Left me wanting to carry an angle grinder everywhere and chop down badly mounted sculptures.
Top tip here. Any bits you dont like, dont bin them, chuck them in a box, they get used in the end. I have an amputee clinic with spare arms, hands, feet and heads in it. It's great when you can pluck a finished component out of the box with no work involved.
Stick with it.
Can I be a cheeky monkey and reccomend a book to you
The Thames and Hudson Manual of Direct Metal Sculpture, a bit out of date but an inspiring read.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manual-Dire...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331839905&sr=1-1
Quite cheap at the moment at a tenner, price goes up and down like a yoyo.
The section on mounting and displaying your work had a massive effect on me. Left me wanting to carry an angle grinder everywhere and chop down badly mounted sculptures.
