Chocolate Sculpture
Quetzal Bird Carving

When someone comes to work with me there are three things that I recommend to help them in their career growth and personal development.  Principally, to prepare for the future by continually educating themselves and benchmarking the progress on their resume.  Secondly, start a portfolio of accomplished work and as the skill level develops keep only the best work in it.  And third get a three ring binder, stuff it with sheet protectors and fill it with anything that they see that intrigues them.  An idea book!

The rain forest Quetzal chocolate showpiece pictured here came from my own personal idea book.  Years before this was actually completed I clipped pages from a magazine article on a sculptor  who's worked I particularly liked.  The bronze sculpture below, by Gary Price, is the photo that the chocolate sculpture interpretation is based upon. In addition to the idea book there is always a backlog of ideas in my mind of what I would like to do next.  Michelangelo once said, "Draw, draw now and draw always!  This epigram may be applied by substituting "draw" with anything that is creatively motivating. 

The tree trunk was made by filling a  safety cone with chocolate, un-molding and then carving it into shape with the addition of a few extra pieces for branches.  A half hotel pan served as a mold for the base which was then trimmed even and a border carved on the edges.  Water balloons coated in chocolate served as the form for the bodies and the heads were modeled from modeling chocolate.  The crest was made from silicon paper forms cut in that shaped and striped with chocolate and applied to the head while still pliable.  The wings and tails were cut out of modeling chocolate and reinforced on the back with melted chocolate.

The Quetzal is Guatemala’s national bird. Its iridescent plumage makes it a prized target for collectors. As a result of being hunted and the rapid deforestation of its native environment Quetzals are on the endangered species list.  They require a natural habit and will die quickly in captivity. The Pre-Columbians respected this fact and would pluck out the two longest tail feathers of the male by night and then release the bird so that its numbers would remain self-sustaining.