Red-tailed Hawk Sculpture in Progress

This photo gallery shows some of the steps involved in carving a red-tailed hawk. First, Floyd outlines the bird shape on a block of wood. Next, he measures and roughs it out; then, he carves details using fine rotary (or spinning) tools  and a woodburning tool. He glues in an eye (made of crystal, glass, or plastic), and he paints the bird — often using multiple coats and different colors to get the depth and the “sheen” you would see on a real feather.