#144 In the Field: Bird anatomy and sculpture workshop con't . . .

Wing flight-feathers are divided into three groups: 

Primaries, secondaries and tertials.  These groups are attached to what corresponds to the arm and hand of a human.

All birds have a basic and predictable structure.  The bird sculptor must know the basics of the skeleton and the sets of feathers inherent to all birds.  Each bird's behavior must be researched to perceive relative proportions and shapes unique to the individual species.  

Begin by thinking of the sets of feathers as individual shapes.  

For it is shapes and the arrangement of shapes that make sculpture.  Sculpture is the arrangement of shapes.  

Wing drawing by Sandy Scott showing 3 main flight feather groups and additional feather groupings