Latest Sculptures: Flying Peacock and Sable Calf

Two of my most recent sculptures, first up is a Sable calf I made for Shawn (SeanieP) in 1:22 scale, made to go with the new Collecta and Mojo Sable antelopes.
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And for Phil, a flying peacock also in 1:22 scale
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*thud* You're killing me! All your sculpts are fantastic, but this time you've outdone yourself. That peacock! It's models like this that reminds me what beautiful birds they are - all the identically-posed models get a bit samey after a while. Tell me, how did you do the wings? How do you manage to texture the feathers without the whole structure warping?

WOW!
those are amazing! I love the sable calf.
And what a beautiful peacock! I never thought of peacock flying as a model figure but it is absolutely stunning!
I also wonder how you did the wings, I don't even dare to try...
Congratulations Shawn and Phil!

Sumo wrote:

*thud* You're killing me! All your sculpts are fantastic, but this time you've outdone yourself. That peacock! It's models like this that reminds me what beautiful birds they are - all the identically-posed models get a bit samey after a while. Tell me, how did you do the wings? How do you manage to texture the feathers without the whole structure warping?

A-J wrote:

WOW!
those are amazing! I love the sable calf.
And what a beautiful peacock! I never thought of peacock flying as a model figure but it is absolutely stunning!
I also wonder how you did the wings, I don't even dare to try...
Congratulations Shawn and Phil!

Thank you both very much!!!

I sculpt with Super Sculpey firm, so the clay it quite hard and holds it's shape well. I made each of the feathers individually putting the detail on and then sculpting them onto the basic wing shape. The detail is done with a dentist tool, it was hard as I kept smudging the detail but I got there in the end. The basic wing shape is padded with wire and kitchen foil.

Harriet, your sculptures are like Nature! ... fascinating!

they are stunning and the way you photograph them just inhances their beauty

These are both amazing again! Especially the first outside picture with just the sable calf...It looks so real! And what a beautifully detailed peacock. Lucky Shawn and Phil!!

Aren't they beautiful--I cannot wait to get my sable calf ---thanks so much again Harriet!

She is sooooooooooo realistiv here:

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Thank you Roger, Ethan, Steve and Shawn

Wonderful work Harriet!!! Big Big Big Big congratulations!!!!

I can't thank Harriet enough, I was so speechless when I saw the peafowl before it was even painted that all I could do was to describe to her how speechless I was! I have had this idea for over a year, some may remember a post where I made a poor attempt at the same thing, here is a photo of that bird before it was painted.
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Well needless to Harriet's version will be displayed in top fashion on a wire hanging above the diorama and my figure is staying in the drawer where he sits now!

I agree that the typical figure of a peafowl is with the tail extended in display, every once in a while I see a figure with the tail dragging behind like Preiser's figure but never flying. Most people don't know that peafowl are very good fliers over short distances. Normally they try to run first, they are the largest species of pheasant and their first defense is to freeze, then run and finally if there is no other option they fly. There are several good videos available on the internet of peafowl flying if your interested. One other thing is the name, they are properly called peafowl, a male is a peacock and a female a peahen. Like other pheasants they do not form flocks but are harem breeders with a dominant male and his hens along with some immature birds and non breeding males. They do roost communally, smaller groups will meet at around dusk and roost as high up as possible, sometimes more then 100 ft high if the perches are available that high. They eat mostly seeds, plant shoots and new leaves along with insects and if they are lucky a small reptile or even baby mice and rats if they happen to find them in a nest while foraging. They make a fairly good pet and are easy to care for but they are not very apt to let you pet them, more like they just don't run away!

There are 3 species, two from Southeast Asia, the Javan or green peafowl, which is endangered and very rare in captivity, and the blue or Indian peafowl, both of these are in the genus Pavo. The third species is the Congo peafowl, which lives in such dense forests that it can't raise it's tail so it doesn't have any long or ornate feathers but attracts a mate by calling so loud that is is the second loudest bird in the world. This bird is in a different genus, Afropavo, and is closely associated with the other two.

Ohhh, Harriet ! What can I say ?
They are SO lovely, they are fantastic, they are...

Me too, one of the pictures of the calf, I thought is was a photo of a real one

Lucky Shawn, and lucky Phil

Awww I love them!

Holy crap!!! Harriet these are AMAZING! Just incredible. It is such an immense pleasure even to be able to see pictures. I can't even fathom the joy of owning a model by you. You have cultivated your talents to ridiculously enviable degree and we are all so lucky to have a window onto your work. Thank you for this post!!

Peacock's terrific! Great job!

breathtaking

kudu11 wrote:

they are stunning and the way you photograph them just inhances their beauty

Perfect as everything what Harriet made... Real pleasure for every collector eyes!

First there is a wonderful sable calf, such a beautiful model Harriet provide us and each time it is a big enjoyment Look at this pic ! what to say more ? It is absolutely... Absolute

And then, there is the flying peacock, the kind of thing that break a collector's heart and make marmelade of it. Thank you Harriet, to be here... And to bring some kind of magic in the STS realm

Thank you so much everyone, I'm so happy you like them and the pictures

Phil, thank you for the information about peafowl, that's interesting about the Congo Peacock not having ornate tail feathers because of the dense jungle.

...Harriet! You make animal models better and better! My Congrats!

Other great gift to my eyes.......Harriet sculptures...¡

Sable calf is lovely, and he has beautiful face,and him legs have detailed hair.

That good idea, peacock flying. Other different aspect of this bird.

Brilliant work Harriet, big big congratulations.

Harriet, They are so, so fabulous!!! How long have you been sculpting?? You are a professional! I can't believe you are only 19! Such talent. Congratulations Harriet.

u have gods hand