Gallery

Gallery of Carvings for Sale

Raptors

Shorebirds

Songbirds

Waterfowl

Wildfowl

Miscellaneous


Archive of Carvings that have Sold

Raptors

Shorebirds

Songbirds

Waterfowl

Wildfowl

Miscellaneous

Duncan Nalos

Thoughts from the Artist

Down deep within all of us is a God given desire to connect with nature. For some this may be expressed in outdoor recreation; for others it may be relating to a favorite pet. Paradise in my imagination would be to be at home in nature, without fear or danger, and that every creature could be a friend. There are so many beautiful birds that most of us will not have the opportunity to appreciate at close range, all of whom reflect something of the magnificence and glory of God. My desire to carve birds has come out of this enchantment with creation. In the exercise of carving, I feel connected to my subject and to nature. My hope is that when you look at one of my pieces, that you too will feel a little closer to nature.

Common Questions

What kind of wood do I prefer?

Linden, also known as Basswood or White wood, is a large shade tree, which grows on the east coast of the United States. The wood is fine grained, and has an excellent consistency for wood carving.

How long does it take to carve a bird?

I no longer keep track of the time I spend, because producing art under time pressure doesn't work for me. I know I have taken up to 65 hours to do a Blue Jay, and 255 hours to do a full scale Bald Eagle, and 40 hours to do a Chickadee.

What are the steps you go through in carving a bird?

  1. having an inspiring idea
  2. drawing patterns of side and top profiles
  3. transferring patterns onto a block of wood
  4. bandsawing both profiles
  5. roughing out the basic shape using chisels, grinders, and sanders
  6. sketching and cutting in the details on the smoothed down bird
  7. stoning the feather lines
  8. engraving the fine detail
  9. sealing the wood in preparation for painting
  10. painting with acrylics (often many thin layers are applied to obtain the desired color and intensity)
  11. the paint is then sealed with a coating of wax for protection
  12. my signature is usually burned in on the base or underside of the carving

For more Information

I can be reached via email (dnalos@gmail.com), or call (604)852-6546.

Site Updated: 2008.6.9
SW Updated: 2006.10.14