Mallard Hen (Anas platyrhynchos)

This is a full-bodied sculpture showing a Mallard Hen, standing on a log,
with two chick sheltering under her body.

Some details of the Sculpture 
Click on any picture with your right mouse button and "view image" for a slightly larger picture!
This is a close-up view of the head of the hen.  She is looking around very carefully, checking for danger to her chicks.
A view of the chicks sitting on the Hen's feet.  One is relaxed looking forward but the second one is moving back, peeking out between the legs of its mother.
Another view of the chicks standing on the Hen's feet.  You can just see the bill of the chick that is facing to the rear.
   The chicks were constructed, first of wood and then they were covered with short pieces of Sisel cord. 

   This picture shows the ball of Sisel.  The twine was unravelled and held with the small, needle-nosed pliers.  The fibers were then cut about 1/2" long and stuck on the chick in small clumps.  The fibers were then trimmed to length.

   This shot shows the gluing process almost half done! 

   The chicks were covered with a thin layer of hot-melt glue (stick) using a glue gun.  I used a small soldering iron on low heat to melt the glue as I was holding the Sisel fibers in place on the carving.  It held surpisingly well!

This is a picture of the finished chicks.  The Sisel fiber has been trimmed to shape the chicks and then painted using an air brush.  The two stumps beside the head of the chick facing to the back are the legs for the Mallard Hen.

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Page Last Updated: Thursday, 14 May 1998