First Swift Bronze Exhibitions Summer 2016

The first of the Swift Bronzes will be on show at various events and exhibitions this Summer 2016. Designs are being drawn up and suitable bases are being sourced to display this special bird portrait sculpture to its best advantage.
The order - book is now open for the first and early numbers of the edition...prices will reflect their number and the amounts they will raise and donate both for the cause of Swift conservation and its publicity.

Here is one design which may include carved surface of the world, highlighting our Swift's epic journey from Britain to Africa.

Serious Decline in Swift Numbers in the UK

    Swifts are astounding aerial acrobats, and they are extraordinary birds for other reasons – 
they spend almost all their lives flying.
They feed and sleep on the wing, and normally only land at the right sort of sites to nest and rear their young.

    Their nests are out of sight in buildings, under the roof tiles or in cracks in walls.

Swifts in the Sky by Keta

    
    Sadly the number of Swift is declining dramatically in the last 20 years and one reason for this is the loss of nest sites as buildings are repaired or demolished.

The RSPB is one organisation identifying this issue and drawing up a series of projects to achieve support for the conservation of the Swift. Further updates will be brought as to the status of these projects.

For practical information and links to other local groups working for Swift Conservation see
Action for Swifts

Swift Conservation  provides an additional platform for the sharing of information and further links.

Last images of the Swift clay before the mould is made

Last glimpses before the Swift sculpture is cast into wax, and then  to Bronze

Amazing face of the Swift, with the small beak and feathers along the face - the mouth has a tremendous gape, ready to catch the insect food in flight.

There we are then ... next Sculptress  JOEL is aiming to make a juvenile Swift about to fly for the first time

More details and refinements made to the undersides of the wings.

The Top surfaces of the wings are also worked on to bring out the details of the feathers.

This is much less noticeable here as the birds usually  keep the tops of their wings as sleek as possible to aid lift in flight.

Swift sculpture progress of second underwing

The Swift project continues...with more research and work on the underside of the other wing...it is a slow process to understand and represent/reproduce the wonder of the feather pattern and character of these marvelous birds.

The two wings need to be similar, yet not exactly the same.
The leading edge of the wings are being gently shaped, and refined, though they must be able to bear the weight of the sculptures and not be hazardous to touch and feel.

Swift Sculpture project feather detail of underside of wing

Each feather made, laid on and worked in

Clay Profile of Swift Sculpture Developes

Armature covered and wing profiles developed

Details of the head and face also added and refined

Work on the details of the feathers of the undersides of the wings begins