Mini Black Duck

Was playing with a concept that included carving a small decoy. This part of the concept is the decoy.

Proved hard to do well. Even using my smallest brushes, what looks good to the naked eye does not convey well under the magnification of the camera lens.

Seasonal Carvings

Finished these up for the bookshelf.

Baby Gabey and Lizzy

Now this is a cute picture. Check out those eyes!

New antiques

Just finished these two as part of the MN Decoy carvers club demonstration. I have posted this style before. Again I have a Common Eider and have added new a White Winged Scoter (Thats the black one). Eiders don't really make it to MN, but there were reports of Scoters on lake superior this last weekend. There is the beginning of a tutorial on how I did these at the MN Decoys Carvers website. Here is the link to our monthly newsletter.

http://mdwcc-carving-club.com/Dec%202008%20newsletter.pdf Next month will have how I finished the decoys. It was nice to see one member had already brought in a carving of a Ruddy Duck he in tended to use this carving/painting technique on ..

New Grandpa Picks

You have to have photos of the new baby. Grandkids are so much better than kids.

Gabriel Michael 7lbs 6.2Oz. All in good order

Shang Wheeler Style Mergansers

Shang Wheeler was a Famous Carver from Connecticut who carved at the turn of the century through the mid century. He was a career sportsman, activist and politician. He surprized the decoy world when he showed up to a decoy show with his detailed birds. He sold very few decoys opting to use or give them away. Here is my tribute of his style. These decoys are for sale. Please visit http://woodasart4sale.blogspot.com/

Blue Ribbon Gal

Well, the Pintail (from the collection of Laura Froelich) won the blue ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair. Here is a photo with all her bling

Maine Eider

This was an exercise in what is known as "simulated in use and wear" technique. I used an antique pattern from Maine and antiquing techniques. The Head is mortised on as was typical of boat builers making decoys in Maine. Hope you like it.

Complete

The final paint is on and we're done.

Pintail Detail

another 14 hours.

Pintail Update

Worked on finishing the cape and the definition of chest feathers. I like the way they are coming out. I also put a base coat on the bill. I'll need to see a better picture of a good bill for replication. I gave a wash to the entire rump section to even out the feather center and to lose the white tips. They really were not coming out well.

Native American Flute

A gentleman at work collects and plays native american flutes. He had seen my woodworking and set forth a sort of challenge. He thought I should be able to make a flute since I was a woodworker. Well, here is the outcome of my first native flute. It's in the key of F# and is tuned. The Flute is Red Cedar and the Fetish is ebony. I used an inuit influence for the fetish paint scheme.

Paint Frustration

At the Krausman's I decided to work on a Hen Pintail. Doesn't sound too remarkable to non painters, but trust me, the different shades are crazy. I was frustrated enough that I called Keith this evening and he talked me back down off the roof. He also shared some great photos of birds he carved for the world competition and some older birds recently returned from a museum. Wow.

I am getting closer to completing the base paint of the bird. Here is a photo of where the progress is. It has a long way to go. That's okay. I am learning. I am happy so far with what is going on here so thats why I am showing.

Welcome Aboard

Well, here goes first shot at the blog-o-sphere. I am adopting the wood-as-art theme because I like to do so many things in wood although my passion for 2 years has been duck decoys. I recently completed a class at the Krausmans Studio with the World Campion carver Keith Mueller.

It was such a blast. All I can say is that I carved and painted from 0800-2300 every evening and was mad that my body was shutting down. 6 days in a row and man did I need a vacation from my vacation. I stayed with John Johnson, a retired engineer from GM and a really great guy. He has a cabin up in the U.P. of Michigan just about 15 Min from the carving studio. They also pronounce the word Sauna kinda funny. But you better get to know it cuz thats how you bathe. Photos are of me trying to get a glimpse of a Black Duck. A species we don't have many of in MN. If I am lucky, I will figure this blog thing out a bit more. Attached below is a photo John took of Keith Mueller in the Studio just before going. Rev. Don Stonnard, one of our students thought Keith Needed a painting Apron more fitting his craft.