“A life-sized stainless steel sculpture of a hovering Kestrel. Features vibrant, heat-tinted plumage in blues, purples, and coppers.”
The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is famous for its ability to "wind-hover"—hanging motionless in the air while scanning the ground for prey. This life-sized sculpture captures that precise moment of suspended energy, with the tail fanned wide and the wings adjusting to the air currents.
Crafted from stainless steel, this piece is a standout example of thermal painting. By carefully applying varying degrees of heat to the metal, I have recreated the bird's distinctive plumage without using a drop of paint. The wings and tail feature a spectrum of iridescent blues, deep violets, and burnished coppers, mimicking the patterns of the feathers. The body is constructed from layered, welded steel to provide texture and weight, contrasting with the thin, vibrant flight feathers that give the sculpture its sense of lift.
