owl
I have been working on an owl for over a week and a half. He is a great-horned owl inspired by this drawing in Sibley's.
Here is my initial sketch.
I drew the face mask first. I think that in all softie making, and perhaps especially in soft sculpture, the eyes either make or break the finished project. I also drew the owl in profile because the way my bird patterns are designed I have to have a good sense of what I want the finished bird to look like from the side before I can begin.
The prototype pattern had several structural flaws that I then corrected. Owls are narrower at the base and have broad shoulders which meant this pattern needed not only an under gusset, but a back gusset, too. And owls are cool because they can turn their heads all the way around. I cut the pattern into pieces to allow for as much head turning as I'd like. The finished owl has his head only slightly turned. Hopefully I'll get a chance to make another one with a fully turned head.
I wanted the legs and feet to have some heft so I wrapped them in fabric strips that I then bound in black thread. Each talon is wrapped in floral tape and then painted black.
And just to prove to you that I do indeed have some sort of soft sculpture psychosis, here are the scraps from making the wing feathers.
I fused some body fabric to black Kona cotton with double sided fusible web (I love that stuff!) and then punched many many many petal-shaped pieces with my Sizzix paddle punch. This is the only part of the process that was loud. I sew when my children are sleeping so quiet is really imperative. Therefore I spent several evenings out in the garage hammering away, listening to Sister Diane on the iPod.
And several more evenings hand-sewing the feathers to the wings.
So here he is. My new owl.
Incredible, I am amazed at your work once again!
Posted by: Jennifer | November 19, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Love. Very much. He looks like my owls' big daddy.
Posted by: laurie | November 19, 2007 at 09:52 AM
oh my goodness, he is a very handsome chap! wonderful : )
Posted by: lucykatecrafts | November 19, 2007 at 09:58 AM
He is beautiful! All your creatures look so intricate to make and also so time-consuming, but the results are always fantastic! ;)
Posted by: Rebecca | November 19, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Astounding.
Posted by: Wendy | November 19, 2007 at 10:27 AM
Beautiful work of art, well done !
Posted by: fanja | November 19, 2007 at 11:00 AM
He's really beautiful, Abby. What an amazingly intricate piece of work!
I hope you don't think this is too weird, but I actually think he looks kind of like you. Maybe the eyes/glasses... In any case, he's wonderful!
Posted by: Jen | November 19, 2007 at 11:29 AM
His face is wonderful, and all of the tiny feathers ~ lovely!
Posted by: Tiffany | November 19, 2007 at 11:50 AM
Wow! Absolutely wonderful looking owl!!
Posted by: Julie | November 19, 2007 at 12:37 PM
Whoa! He is so regal and simply stunning Abby! The feathers are incredible and using a punch was brilliant!
PS re: the head turning, have you ever considered trying a jointed head?
Posted by: myra | November 19, 2007 at 02:04 PM
As always love the attention to detail.
Posted by: robyn | November 19, 2007 at 03:25 PM
Amazing. I am so grateful to see your entire process, it is so interesting.
Posted by: aija | November 19, 2007 at 03:48 PM
wow! he's gorgeous!
Posted by: Sally | November 19, 2007 at 06:47 PM
Very impressive - she or he is beautiful. It was great to see your whole creative process in this post - you are very patient to put all that work in.
Posted by: Wendy | November 19, 2007 at 10:19 PM
Wow he is absolutely amazing. A very beautiful modern piece!
Posted by: Danielleorama | November 20, 2007 at 08:32 AM
Dang!!!!!
Posted by: mamarox | November 20, 2007 at 10:59 AM
Oh, he's stunning! I'd love to have one of those.
Posted by: Julie | November 20, 2007 at 11:28 AM
he needs a great name... like Theophilus. so studious and intricate.
Posted by: kim | November 20, 2007 at 12:46 PM
Holy. Cow.
Posted by: Jen | November 20, 2007 at 01:18 PM
Your best ever, I think.
Can't take my eyes of him.
Posted by: shula | November 20, 2007 at 04:38 PM
The owl is stunning, I loved all the pre pictures watching how it was made, but the final picture is so stunning! I love the face.
Posted by: Anna Laura | November 20, 2007 at 08:41 PM
I don't think I've ever commented on your work, but I have watched you develop over months, and I truly find your growth inspiring. To me, you're what this new arts and crafts movement is all about--a woman who was filled with the urge to create and kept doing so until her skills and vision matched her passion. Congratulations, and thanks so much for sharing your beautiful, beautiful work.
Posted by: melissa Crowe | November 20, 2007 at 10:28 PM
wow! this is really impressive.
beautiful.
Posted by: leslie | November 21, 2007 at 07:53 AM
This is amazing! I find your stuff so inspiring. The owl is one of my favorites so far. You have a Michaelangelo-like ability to find the personality in the medium, in your case fabric.
Posted by: Eric Orchard | November 21, 2007 at 01:22 PM
spec-freaking-tacular abby! it is gorgeous....
Posted by: stephanie s | November 21, 2007 at 01:44 PM