Signed driftwood assemblage.

I gasped at the wing detail when I found this bird's body. When assessing material, I view all sides, angles and possible presentation, and noted this body was "out of kilter”.

One of the main concerns when constructing is, how will it read? Unaltered shapes quite rightly have a mind of their own. In addition to these considerations, stability is crucial when setting an irregular lump of timber on its end! In my store is a collection of old steel-rods.

I dug out a 6mm rod salvaged from a stream bed in the Black Mountains, and after contemplation I took aim with my old wolf drill. Phew! I'd placed the bird body upside down on the floor, held the bird's leg upright between mine and squeezed the firing button.

What sometimes looks fragile can often prove to be extremely hard, and I incurred a bit of wobble as I pressed on. Length and angle of penetration allowed approximately 8cms of rod, which, combined with a similar length inserted into the oak block base, would result in stability. The nerve-racking part completed, I enjoyed the pleasure of looking through my "largest bird heads" tray and selected this one. Size, shape most appropriate, and it was the neat, downward curve at the rear of the bird's crest that echoed the shoulder feathers that convinced me.

I feel this bird has a lof of personality, despite its shy, self-conscious coyness.