Step 1 - Plan Your Project and Organize Reference Material
Before starting any carving we should gather good reference material for the species we have chosen to carve.
Lay out your photos on a study board so you can see them all at once. Get as many different views as you can.
Find a photo of a live unafraid individual bird that is a typically natural pose and close to what you would like to carve. Look for front, side, rear, and top views for that and similar species in similar poses as well. Unusual or extreme poses tend to look contrived and stiff and usually very hard to pull off properly, so try to avoid those. Reference videos of the species are great. Visit an aviary if you can find one near you and ask if you can video or photograph the birds there. Be sure you catch them in the peak of the winter plumage for this will give you the best reference for your carving. For your first few birds in the future, I recommend that you choose simple posed divers such as the Lesser or Greater Scaup, Canvasback, Ring-Necked duck, or Redhead ducks. Carve the bird with no wings out, mouth shut and medium to tightly spaced tail feathers. Higher heads are generally easier to carve than the low head or sleeper position poses. .As you progress you can move on the more comples species and poses.
A good Study Bill is also a necessary reference tool for carving accurate bill detail. Order one for the class if you do not have one for this species.
Lesser Scaup Study Bill - $11.99
Step 2 - Tools and Supplies
Paints, Brushes and Related Supplies
Burning Systems
Optical Instruments and Lighting
Dust Collectors:
General Supplies:
The DC 725 Dust Collector - $189.99
"I am very impressed with the power and dust capturing ability of this machine. I have them mounted under the benchs at four carving stations in my studio."
Vic Kirkman
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Listed here are the supplies and tools I recommend for you to follow the methodology of wildfowl carving I teach. These will also assist you for developing your wildfowl carving skills in the future.
Safety Glasses- These impact resistant glasses are comfortable, stylish and have side protection shields.
Super Sculpey- Sculpturing compound great for temporary eye setting and models.
Five Minute Epoxy - A clear, super fast epoxy known for its high strength and bonding ability. It has
become the leading epoxy in the decoy making trade. Resin and hardener.
Wood and Cutouts.
Tupelo Wood
The finest North Carolina Tupelo properly dried and cut into convenient blocks with the wildfowl carver in mind. This Tupelo wood will come from the best source and supply available at the time you place your order. It will come from the same stock I use for my own carvings and also recommend to my students. Please email me for quotes on special sizes and large quantity orders.
Knives and Hand Tools
The tupelo knife was used by early Cajun carvers and improved and put to best use by the famous world champion and father of modern day decorative wildfowl carving, Tan Brunet. The main feature of the knife is the single beveled blade. In the past these knives were fashioned from old pre-war steel straight razors and took on a variety of shapes for various cuts. The classic, long, curved blade tupelo knife was and still remains the old standby. Hardwood handles vary but for the most part, the blades are longer than any other knives used in carving. The standard length Tupelo knife is 3 - 4" long, pointed at the tip, tapered wider to the hilt to a width of 3/8"-1/2".
Knifes are made fo me from my design and quality control by John Dunkle and Bob Bart.
The BK-1 Cajun Tupelo Knife $48.95 - Stropping powder free with purchase by Online Students. Made by Bob Barts for Vic Kirkman. (Original design by Tim Bourque & the Brunet family).
