How the Red Kite Flying From the Tree was created.
One of the strong winter storms damaged the top of this oak tree and had to be removed, leaving a 26-foot-tall tree trunk. Chris, the client, approached me about placing a sculpture on the trunk—either a buzzard or a red kite, as both birds are seen in his garden.
Rather than carving the bird directly from the trunk, Chris decided he would like the sculpture to be removable, in case they ever moved and wanted to take it with them. I thought this was a great idea, especially since the trunk was split in many places and unsuitable for carving.
Chris and his family chose a Red Kite, and we agreed on a pose where the bird is perched on top of the trunk, as if about to take flight, with wings slightly angled for a better view from there patio.
For aesthetic reasons, I chose to hide the strong attachment method for the bird, using steel feet for added detail, realism, and strength. The work on the tree was made possible by the self-supporting scaffold that I designed, constructed and screwed securely to the trunk, providing a safe platform from which to work.
The Red Kite sculpture was made in four parts, which could be attached and screwed in place. This design also allows for easy removal in the future if needed.
The Red Kite was made in four pieces: two wings, the body, and the feet/base plate. This was a lengthy process, as no glue could be used. At the same time, I aimed to hide the straight lines where the parts were joined, without using any shims or filler. I have to say, I truly enjoy the problem-solving aspect of my work.
I exaggerated some of the details in the feathers to make them stand out when viewed from ground level. The plumage colours were added to the bird using pyrography, along with some white paint and a thinned orange spray paint. The Red Kite was then treated with Osmo Oil 420 for durability.
Once the oil was cured and a suitable window of good weather was available, it was time for installation. Each part of the Red Kite was carefully elevated by rope into position. The base plate was screwed to the tree, to prevent the top from splitting. The body of the Red Kite was slotted to the top of the base plate and screwed in place; the wings were carefully slotted onto the body and coach screwed in place. Small pieces of wood were added to hide the fixings.
I left a metal eye, screwed onto the trunk top, to allow myself to be harnessed onto a safe access point for any future maintenance. This anchor point was used at all times whilst I was installing the sculpture. It also allowed me to be tied in safely whilst disassembling the scaffold tower used for construction during the project.
To create a similar sculpture without installation would cost around £2200.
To include installation at height, sculpture would cost around £3000, depending on access and height requirements.
I call these types of installations ‘Extreme Carving’!
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