1. In order to determine the shape to cut out of sheet brass, the first step is a clay model.
2. The clay model is submerged in "Dip Seal" which has been heated at 350° to a liquid state.
3. The model pulled out, the rubbery Dip Seal coating sets up immediately.
4. Having used a sharp knife to cut the Dip Seal where I want the seam to be, I now remove the rubbery Dip Seal skin.
5. Now the Dip Seal skin is spread out as flat as possible onto paper and traced with a pencil.
6. The paper was cut while folded to ensure symmetry.
7. Tracing around the paper pattern onto 16 gauge brass sheet. The paper pattern can be kept to use again.
8. The brass piece has been cut out, annealed and pickled, and lines drawn on it as guides for hammering.
9. The hammer-forming begins.
10. Stage one completed, it's getting annealed.
11. Planishing the head on a ball stake.
12. Planishing and forming the body.
13. Forming the beak.
14. Making progress. Stage two complete, ready to be annealed again.
15. Annealing again.