AIRBRUSH

[Vince Pagliaroli]

Been a very longtime since I've hunted over plastic decoys. That said G&H decoys and Herters worked just fine. As for field decoys the old Outlaw silhouettes are murder. Hunting over large spreads I gave up years ago when the big dead bird pile stage of shooting ended for me. Now a few of my decoys, a few shots and a couple of birds to take home to eat suits me just fine. We all go through the stages of hunting at our own pace IF we Live long enough. That said I have the best hunting and fishing gear I've ever had in my life now at the tail end of it. Better late than never. I stopped counting dead friends after the # hit 52 some years ago.

 

[Don Mintz]

I'll agree with the fly rod in my hand, even duck hunting I frequently bring out the fly rod when we see a hatch going on. It's one of my happy places. And yes, William, I occasionally shoot a mallard, lol.



I've been a full time artist for 45 years now in many different forms, mediums, and subject, usually nature stuff of some sort. Decoys are certainly not my first choice of subject matter, but for the last 20 years it's what pays the bills. In order to make a living, you've got to sell stuff and for some that turns what was otherwise fun into a job. I have figured out a way to avoid being bored most of the time with most things I make. My dad couldn't believe I could do the same thing over and over again without getting bored. It's kind of weird I guess in a way, but I have always loved any form of artwork, I did a lot of flat art in the beginning, I think that has tremendous benefits for a sculptor to already understand color and brush skills. I'm always finding something new I want to do from making bent wood landing nets for fly fishing, painting on my gun stock each time I get a new species.

My main thing is not the work, but the flow, doing things I want to, inventing new ways of doing them better, always pushing myself to get better. Right now that involves a lot of decoys and new processes. I'm excited to get up every day and limit myself to waiting till 4am to get started on the day. I don't need an alarm, don't punch a time clock just doing stuff I love to do.

Not to be weird, I'm a Christian, so for me all this carving, sculpting, and painting is a spiritual worshipful experience. I'm by myself most of the time, there are no windows in my shop, so I guess most of the time I'm just inside my head. I talk to God a lot and continually ask Him to guide my hands. Most of the time things just flow when I do that, it's when I think it's all about me and my skills that it becomes a struggle. I try to be complimentary and gracious towards other carvers/artists even though I don't get much of that consideration from many who don't accept my approach. I would rather break trail than stay in a lane.