Description
Caribbean Pirate
Magnificent Frigate Birds have a six foot wingspan and are hard to miss when visiting the Caribbean. During mating season the male (trying to impress the females) have a large inflated red pouch under their throat that is bright red. When not engaged with the females the pouch deflates and allows better aerodynamics. This sculpture represents a male Frigate Bird chasing an Red Billed Tropic Bird over the waves. Tropic Bird are great at snatching fish from the water, while a frigate birds can not catch fish from the water. A frigate bird’s wings are made for flight and not lifting off from the water. So the Frigate birds pirates their food from birds that can catch fish.
The star focus of this sculpture is the Magnificent Frigate Bird. It’s feather detail is shown with both oil and acrylic paint. Acrylics were used for the iridescent scapular feathers in between the wings. The color of the blue sky can be seen reflecting off of the wing feathers. The tropic bird and the carved water less of a focus than the Frigate bird and thus have been ghost painted. While the Frigate bird is carved from Tupelo (because if it’s light weight) the Tropic bird is carved from Cigar Box Cedar which is much heavier and harder (to help support the weight of the Frigate bird). The design how the birds are connected allows them to be separated for safer transport and shipping.
Caribbean Pirate 2
Caribbean Pirate 1
A Magnificent Frigate Bird chasing a ghost painted Red Billed Tropic Bird.
