I want to try various enlargements of this eagle to see if it would be a "good" project for me. My supply of gold leaf is getting low and I'll have to estimate the amount needed to cover it(and the plaque).

Looks challenging!

Looks great for a new carving. Definitely will be following along.

Let the carving process begin. I have to add some detail to the backside of the carving before I can move onto the front, where the major carving will occur.

Edited February 16, 20251 yr by FrederickH

Going to be challenging. I love the patina on your bench.

Finally had a couple of hours to do some carving.

Really had to pare down those wings!

"Steady as she goes"

Tying to get the feather pattern right!

Looking good from Stanley Ave.!  Like the way the feet and head came out.

Great progress. Really beginning to take shape and form.

Almost ready to fly to get gilded, not gelded. I'm learning that a photo shows more of the imperfections than seen with my eye. There are areas that need cleaned up more and the "whiskers" removed.

5 minutes ago, FrederickH said:

Almost ready to fly to get gilded, not gelded

 

Glad it's the former and not the latter!!

28 minutes ago, lew said:

 

Glad it's the former and not the latter!!

Ditto!

Edge molding hand planed and attached to the plaque. This is the first coat of shellac for both and another coat will be done after a sanding. Next, comes the paint/gesso/sizing/gold leaf.

Looking great so far Rick. 

 

Ready for some sizing/gold.

Cool!

 

Do you always use gold paint under the gold leaf?

Now with some visible contrast, that eagle turned out amazing Rick. Can't wait to see with the gold leaf.

2 hours ago, lew said:

Cool!

 

Do you always use gold paint under the gold leaf?

Yes, but this is not a typical gold paint but a "gesso", which is an oil-based paint with a calcium carbonite(chalk) added to it to fill in small imperfections. The real gesso was a clay product that was meant to be rubbed out(think stone/metal) for that burnished look The basswood is too soft to be rubbed out hard. I will use a dark blue gesso for any silver leaf that I do.

Edited March 3, 20251 yr by FrederickH