Green macaw

I am a bird lover and was inspired by an online photo of a common blue & yellow macaw (2nd photo), and the challenge of creating so many feathers!  I hoped to capture the sense of tension and movement portrayed in the photo, which I think was enhanced by positioning the finished piece as if about to land on a large live-edge wood slab installed on a wall in our breakfast nook.  

The pattern was created using Glasseye 2000 software (3rd photo).  The facial features were painted on using Delta PermEnamel Transparent Glass Paint, and the yellow glass eye, which is glued on, was purchased from a nature/craft store that markets glass eyes to wood carvers for duck decoys, etc. (4th photo).  The last photo shows the scale; rough estimate is that this macaw is about 70% lifesize.  The entire circumference, as well as several interior solder lines on the back side, are reinforced/soldered with a continuous length of copper wire for structural support.

It was lots of fun watching this macaw "come to life"!