How to begin to make wings with a 4 foot span

Jennifer says:
I'd like to know how to begin to make a large, 4 to 5 foot wing span, dove. It will be hung from a ceiling, like it is hovering. Any ideas what to make this out of, how to construct it? I want it to be realistic looking. Thanks for any ideas you might have!

First, I would search the web for a dove's wing anatomy. That will give you the basic shape your wing should be. It will also give you a good idea of what size and shape each layer of feathers should be. You are going to have to make an armature for your base. I imagine the type of wire you use will depend on what you end up using for feathers. But once you build the basic armature you could cover it with Amaco Wireform Mesh -- it's meant for sculpting armatures. That should give it some strength and it will be the base you need to attach the feathers. After that it's just a matter of adding the feathers and figuring out the balance so you can find the appropriate points to hang it from.

Best of luck,
Judi and Dawn