One of the reasons I keep a notebook is to play with ideas and save them for future reference. When I revisit an old notebook, I sometimes wonder what I was thinking, but sometimes I realize the circumstances are right to bring the old idea to fruition. That was the case with this bird bowl.
The notebook on the left is from 2018. I had been noticing the plumpness of the backyard birds and I looked up a photo of a chickadee and drew it in ballpoint pen. Then I started to think about a translation of that form and sketched a little idea on the opposite page. Then I did nothing about it for eight years. Then, this year, an exhibition request for a piece that had to fit within a theoretical 6″ cube got me thinking about that design again. I started playing with the idea some more, considering things like grain orientation and the forms of other songbirds as I doodled in my current notebook. That’s one of the recent sketches on the right.
My first experiment beyond the sketchbook was in butternut (above), a practice piece of sorts. Although I wasn’t happy with many of the details, it did give me a chance to learn and gain a better understanding of the form, how best to go about shaping it, and what changes I wanted to make. Also, this particular piece of butternut had some soft patches. I think a little decay had begun to settle in those areas while the log was still green. Even the more sound areas were a bit too soft to hold the edges I wanted for this form.
I reached for a walnut log. I split a piece from the log with the lighter sapwood at the top. The way that chunk is sitting, the bird’s tail is down against the chopping block and the breast is at the top.
I sketched on a few guidelines and began blocking out the form by splitting down to a couple saw cuts, then some shaping with an axe.
After lots more shaping with knives, chisels, and gouges, I started carving the deeply undercut hollow. Lots more to remove from in there when the photo was taken. When I was finished excavating the hollow, I let it dry for two or three weeks. By that time, it had stopped losing weight and was ready for the final carving stages.
Plenty of knife work. The smooth surfaces of the wings up through the top of the head were achieved through a sequence of carving followed by fairing with a rasp and card scraper, then finishing up with very fine sandpaper. The other surfaces were left straight from knife and gouge.
This vise proved handy as it often does.
From March 16 through May 28, 2025, this bird, along with works from 47 other people from 11 countries (including one of my mentors, ,Jögge Sundqvist), will be on display in St. Paul, Minnesota at The AAW Gallery of Wood Art. Then all 48 pieces (individually) will be auctioned. Bids will be accepted online beginning May 31 and on through the live auction event on June 14 at the AAW Symposium in St. Paul, Minnesota. If you would like to receive an email reminder when online bidding opens, you can sign up at this Jotform link set up by Tib Shaw, AAW (American Association of Woodturners) Curator.
I’ll finish this post with two more photos, below.
David Fisher, Carving Explorations 
Beautiful as usual. I’m envious of your drawing ability. The egg on the bottom is the perfect final touch.
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OMG love it!
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A spectacular work of art, Dave, and your drawings are impressive as well. Each time I you post a new piece, I think, “It can’t get better than this!” But it does….Your work and artistry are always an inspiration.
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Truly exceptional! Thanks for sharing the entire process.
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Beautiful David. I’m in the process of carving a Bellamy Eagle and when I’m done with that, I’m going to carve one of your elliptical style shallow bowls to hold fruit on the kitchen counter. Then maybe onto something fancier like this. I have a few related and unrelated questions.
Thanks for you blogging. It is inspiring.
Sincerely,
Joe Leonetti.
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Joe, the butternut should be about the same hardness as basswood, but it varies a lot compared to other species in my experience. I’ve carved kiln-dried butternut that was like carving a sponge (so soft that it was difficult to cut cleanly and leave a good surface), and I’ve carved kiln-dried butternut that felt closer to cherry. Regardless, one difference between basswood and butternut is that butternut is semi ring porous, so there will be pores in the surface. No problem for fruit bowl at all.
Last June, I stepped away from the classroom after 31 years. I’m grateful for them. How your upcoming transition will go depends on so many factors, but I can tell you that having something to focus on that challenges and excites you, like your woodworking, will be a wonderful part of it.
Really, I haven’t changed much about the new shop since setting it up. It’s working fine. Everything is almost exactly the same as when I set it up over a year and a half ago, other than a little more clutter sitting on horizontal surfaces! https://davidffisher.com/2023/07/17/wall-shelves/
Maybe I’ll get some overall shots in a post sometime.
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This is astonishing work!
The insight into how you contain such a beautiful bowl within a 6-inch theoretical cube is so useful.
I just received a lovely supply of cherry and my first thought was to visit (again) your blog for inspiration.
Your work is so inspiring – yet admittedly kind of intimidating – it always puts things into perspective for me!
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Good luck with the cherry! Enjoy the process and the discovery.
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very nice particularly using the sapwood, nice effect. And birds plump up in the cold to keep warm and thin themselves out in the heat to cool off.
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Dave- I’ve been at a loss for words ever since i saw this post the first time. And I keep returning to it. This bird is simply spectacular. I love being able to see a few of the stages toward completion. As Jay said above, the egg on the bottom blew my mind. So masterful at every angle. Thanks for sharing!
JB
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Thanks, Joe. Very kind of you. Looking forward to making birds together soon!
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