Contests and Judging

Steve, I love your defanition of A good judge, All very well put .Having been that route many times over the YRS.
At the same time from what i have observed ONE FAVORATISM,or GET EVEN TIME from a previous show, instead of the best real bird acording to the writtian rules., I KNOW that will never happen at your show. THANK GOD. Paul
 
Good morning, Rick~


Thanks for sharing your very interesting thoughts. They support my personal view of eschewing decoy competitions as such, but.... I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to "show-and-tell" my own works as well as "see-and-hear" the works of other carvers. It occurred to me just now - walking in from the shop having just stoked the stove against the 3 degree air - that the "What's on your is Work Bench ?" post here at duckboats.net serves the very function I try to provide through the Contemporary Decoy Exhibition. Anyone - carvers and non-carvers alike - can appreciate, learn from, and be inspired by the work of others - and engage in conversation, too.



One distinct advantage of the "exhibition" is that the decoys can be seen (and sometimes handled) in the 3D "flesh". I am looking forward to our March 7 event for many reasons, but one major one will be to see in person the works of others.'


All the best,


SJS





 
Steve, you touch on the component of waterfowl shows that, to me, is the most personally worthwhile and rewarding. I refer to the displays as the "farmers market" for waterfowling gear and memorabilia vendors and decoy carvers who attend to display their carvings. That is the competition show aspect that I miss due to my remote location...
 
I think being a judge sometimes is a thankless job. I remember a few years ago Heck Rice got hammered by a couple well known carvers because their birds got kicked out. Someone as nice as Heck being treated and spoke to that way, really bothered me.

I've always sort of shied away from the tank shows for gunners, the eye candy and details that aren't really needed really do pop in hand that may not have from 20 yards out, and I imagine its hard to ignore. It takes judges that can see past the superfluous stuff. But also I've seen "gunners" win or do extremely in pool and lake contests that were not built to be gunners, unsealed keels, exposed screwheads water can easily wick its way up into the body...birds that are made to withstand a few moments in a pool, not seasons in the field...but you cant see that from even 10ft away. Definitely cases of looks over function. You pay your money and take your chances I guess. I wish I could support every show, but money becomes an issue. Find the ones that the type of birds you like to do seem to do well in and stick with them. I admit I got to a point I was carving for shows and not for myself..and honestly thats when I started to lose some interest in carving, just wasnt as much fun anymore.
 
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Steve & Rick

The idea of Decoy Get Togethers without major, or any competitions is a very good one, and may well be the future that we all need.


As many of the old timers know, most of the old shows were more about showing each others work, and collections of all types of outdoor gear and art.

They were gatherings of much fun, interaction, appreciation, and learning. There were just a few contests, and many entries.


Then the specter of big $$$$ contests, celebrity status carvers, buy my book, etc. took hold and became the norm.

The playing field, and the shows became much more one sided, and serious business for some. And "Who Needs That" for most others.


Now a days "most others" stay home, and just in their own area, and keep the decoy carving/making tradition going strong. Could be stronger than is has ever been.

How we get them all together, to intermingle and have FUN without costing a arm and a leg is up to us.


The old Ohio show drew carvers, artists, collectors, new folks with interest, of all stripes from all four flyways.

A person could see and touch decoys, art, and outdoor trappings that they never would anywhere else. It was eye opening, and exciting.

If we could bottle that, and pour it out again it would be a wonderful thing.


VP
 
Thank you, Patrick~


I had not watched that video in years. It somehow "left" my website and I never got around to restoring it (one more thing on The List).



It was before my new shop and before my adoption of Behr sample jars. Surprisingly - from what I can tell with my one eye - I have not aged one bit!


All the best,


SJS

 
Matt and Vince, my last attendance at the ODCCA show occurred when a national level carver brought a bird in for the pool float, only to have a large piece of paint peel away. Several commented and he blew-up. Matt, I am will to bet he was one of the same folks who berated Heck Rice as well. I stopped posting on the DecoyCarvingForum after several PMs, one informing me that Jim Schmiedlin (sp?) birds were nothing special...I responded that his were the only heavily stylized decoys that I admired and wanted to own. Bad answer...apparently!
 

Rick,

If you attended the Ohio show, prior to The Pool, it was one incredible place to be. A true gathering of the Tribe of North American Decoy Enthusiast & Waterfowlers.

Decoy carvers/makers of every level.

All were respected, treated very well as equals. A few drinks and a BS session was always welcome. Winning contests was not the sole reason we were there. It was more or less a after thought, and one helluva good time with major hangovers.

Some entered decoys from their rigs (as Jim S. did), not decoys made to win contests

You could walk into a decoy dealers room and pick up a Crowell, or any other antique decoy there was, from coast to coast. The dealers would talk to you and educate you, not just think of you as a customer with lotta $$$$$.


When things became much more serious (come on they are decoys) and folks saw the dollar signs, for old, and new work, it turned in a different direction.


Cilf created the POOL for us under achiever, aka folks that carved/made decoys to hunt over, not to win contests. I was with him when he birthed the idea.

When more folks entered the POOL than the big $$$$ contests. The elite wanted to come and lower themselves just to WIN.

Hot water and chlorine do a helluva job on some plastic paint. When I helped at the pool ya better dab some decoys, and not wipe em, or the paint always came OFF.

Rust- Oleum and Ronans - No Problem.


Long before the Pool. Jim S. won the whole ball of wax upstairs, with decoys from his rig, I have some photos.

Then he stopped entering contests. He had proven his point, and was gentleman enough not to gloat, and keep on hammering others.

They do not make men like him anymore, he was one of a kind.

Hell, if he wanted to sell books, and be a diva, he could have kicked everyone's ASS.

He was a better man than that, and his ART shows that quality. It will shine a very, very long time.


VP
 
I was only around him on two occasions; very unassuming guy with an interesting sense of humor. Anyone who can laugh at themselves in a public setting, generally gets my vote! I always appreciated Jim's approach to vermiculation on his birds, a style I have never seen used anywhere else. It has a very distinctive appearance and really sets his divers apart, along with the flow of their body lines.

Here is an interesting example of a working decoy with great lines, to my eye:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BLUE-BILL-HEN-hunting-duck-decoy-decoys-original-paint-WMW-glass-eyes/303182365024?_trksid=p2485497.m4902.l9144
 

Rick,


When Jim and I had discussions. The life of the wood (the grain), and the life of the subject blending together was paramount. IMO he achieved that better than most.

His paint technique was off the chart, in a zone all it's own.

I'm a Black Duck junky, and Jim's Black Ducks (especially The Warrior) make me crazy they are so darn Good.





That hen Bluebill is a dandy.

The interaction of the texturing and the paint of the body really compliment each other, and the head is regal.

A very good eye catching Decoy.

Any idea as who is the carver?


VP
 
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