I wanted some little wooden birds for décor.
I decided on 3 species:
The sketches
I sketched out simplified shapes of each bird as well as a top profile, then brought them into photoshop to experiment with color placement and make my cutting templates.
Shop time
I used a scroll saw to cut the shapes out of a basswood plank planed to a little over an inch. The spindle sander did a good job of smoothing out the edges and taking off any jitters from the scroll saw. I tapered the birds towards the beak to suggest a birdlike shape while still staying abstract and blocky.
Finishing
I gave the sparrow and gnatcatcher wire coat-hanger legs and maple bases. The maple was heavy enough compared to the basswood that the birds balanced fine and I didn’t need to add any weight.
I copied the templates onto the blocks and painted them with gouache. The gouache worked very well. It fully colored the wood but also left the wood’s texture and finish almost unchanged, unlike acrylic, which would have left a plasticky finish.
I coated them with several layers of chalk-finish Krylon to seal the gouache and protect it from water.
