Elegant bird sculptures by polymer clay artist Jenny Armitage.

These polymer clay birds are alive with character. Although their plumage and coloring are often fanciful, each bird captures the essence of its kind.

Neutral colors predominate, showing off the birds' elegant lines. The golden legs and beaks of many of the birds are sculpted from clay colored with mica to create a natural, understated sheen.

Their plumage is made up of layer upon layer of intricate clay canework. Each feather is an individual slice.

All of the bases are burl wood.

My birds can be purchased on-line or at fine art fairs in Oregon and Washington.

The unplaned tops of wood burls remind me of the rocks found around tidal pools along the Oregon coast. I often sand and finish these tops to use as bases for costal birds. This is the third pair of sandpipers I have set on a natural burl cap. For each pair I have made a different set feather canes. The canes on this pair are shown in detail to the right.

Wading Blue Heron II
8.5 x 7 x 5"
$300
A blue heron in full mating plumage is a wondrous thing. This heron's mating plumage is made of feather canes that were coiled before application to the bird.

Sandy Heron
10 x 5.5 x 9"
$325
The sandy heron is a beautifully feathered, but entirely fictitious, species. Like the blue heron above, this heron's mating plumage is made of coiled feather canes.

Three Sandpipers II
12" x 6" x 4"
$225
Another group of sandpipers on an unplaned burl wood cap. All three birds are on the move.

Cold Sandpiper III
6 x 5 x 3.45"
SOLD
This little sandpiper is all fluffed up against the cold. His wings are gold and copper canes. Two kinds of bullseye cane make up his breast and head.