This is the method I use on breast feathers of most small birds, the cape (mantel), and,
with slight modifications in flow and size, on the side pockets of waterfowl.
The first thing is to establish the flow of the feather groups.
Draw in the feathers following the flow and vary the size and direction of them.
The second part of the pic shows the "C" stroke penciled in.
Here, I've sketched in what I call feather bunches.
These are groups of feathers within the overall larger feather group....breast, for example.
Within these feather bunches, the individual feathers will be laid out.
Start carving in the bunches....I use a flame shaped ruby carver,
either coarse or medium grit. It looks icky now, but it won't when it's blended and sanded.
Blended and sanded feather bunches with the flow lines drawin back in.
Notice that the grooves are almost sanded completely out.
All we're doing is creating some interest with lumps and bumps....."landscaping"
OK, now here's where we draw in the individual feathers within the bunches.
See how they vary in direction, yet still follow the overall flow pattern?
The individual feathers have been carved in, and I've begun to blend them.
I'll knock off the edges of the grooves with a medium grit diamond carver.
Sand these grooves almost completely out, too.
The texture is ground in by making "C" strokes,
first one direction on one side of the feather--
then the opposite direction on the opposite side of the feather. I use a blue or white ceramic
texturing stone.
Last step....burning......burn right over the texture.
Notice how the individual feathers vary direction, yet still follow the overall flow?
This is the same principle I set up in laying out the bunches....
carried down to the individual feathers within the bunches.
