Western Brilliance: The Lazuli Bunting

Once you’ve completed carving the Lazuli bunting, it’s time to begin what is possibly an even more important part of the process— painting. To get the coloration right, it’s important to go back and review your reference materials, photos, and study skins if you have them. You may even want to take another field trip to observe the live bunting and see the brilliant blues and earth tones that make this magnificent little western bird so spectacular.

I enjoy this phase of the project because when I paint I get to bring my carving to life. It can sometimes seem a bit intimidating, but remember, “It’s only paint.” You can go back and change colors until you get what you want.


Read the rest of this article in Wildfowl Carving Magazine’s Summer 2014 issue!