Goldeneye rig...

[Pat Gregory]

Finally getting to work on some whistlers I hoped to finish for season. Have to wait until next year. Hens are done...

Shoot straight and God bless! Pat

 

[ed gagne]

wow i love the style of your decoys. are they made of hallow wood or cork, i cant really tell.

the heads are really unique.

eddie

 

[Bradley Carleton]

Eddie,

I like his heads too, but yours RULE!

 

[Pat Gregory]

Ed - These decoys are high density cork with white pine heads. This particular white pine was very old most likely from an old barn here in Central Illinois. I appreciate your interest in decoys. If you're ever out here in the Midwest, stop in. God bless! Pat

 

[Dave Sikorski]

Gorgeous style Pat. Very nice Whistlers!. They'll definitely lock in on those and end up feet down then feet up.

-D

 

[Pat Gregory]

These show you a little more of what is "under the hood..." Pat

 

[Michael R Braun]

looking good!

 

[David Robinson]

Pat,

Thanks for the under the hood pics. I really like the fact that you've got variety in your dekes. Lots of different poses and attitudes. I'm sure it will be a pleasure to gun over that fine rig. Did you draw you own plans?

Dave

 

[Pat Gregory]

David - My great grandfather was an Illinois River Decoy maker for 60 years. He patterned after the greats, Perdew, Graves and Elliston. My early decoys, I patterned after him. Now I make my own patterns. And, yes, I do vary the heads greatly. Kind of a personal style thing.

I appreciate the kind words and comments. Pat

 

[ed gagne]

after looking at them over and over i have decided i must have one, if your willing to part with maybe an extra one during the course of the new year. sent you a pm

eddie

 

[Jeff Stewart]

Beautiful blocks. I love the head variations. Smooth flowing lines throughout. You've given me some ideas for my next set of dekes. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Pat Gregory]

Ed - I am flattered. I'd have to make you one. It may be a while. I am pretty backed up in orders. You wanting a drake or hen? And, what head position? Let me know.

I appreciate your interest in my decoys. God bless! Pat

 

[John Augustine]

Pat, I am really impressed with the paint on your hens! I have been making my own birds for a couple years now and am currently working on a hen GE. All my birds are black cork W/balsa heads. Would you show a side view of a single hen so I can better see what you've done with them? It looks as though someone who could paint (unlike me) could make your style work on black cork.
Thanks for the inspiration. John

 

[Pat Gregory]

John - I appreciate the kind words and very cool you make your own decoys. My painting is simple and not time consuming. I use a cheap 1/2 inch boar hair bristle brush you can get at any hardware store. I trim it half round with a pair of sharp scissors. You then can stippel the feathers from back to front. I use this for all my diver and puddler hens and geese and black ducks. I have attached some pics of the brushes and examples. Painting a hen generally takes me about 30 minutes....

Keep carving and God bless! Pat

 

[Pat Gregory]

More pics...

 

[David Robinson]

THANK YOU Pat!!!

You've just solved my biggest question, how do you paint hen's?! That brush trick is something that I could do (unlike all of that fancy airbrushing). I've got 2 bluebills done and they need mates. Now their dates won't show up naked, hehehehe.

Thanks,

Dave Robinson

 

[John Augustine]

Thanks Pat, I've got a box full of those brushes so I'll try it on my next bird. I may even post a picture if it turns out.
Thanks Again, John

 

[Pat Gregory]

Dave - Honestly, it revolutionized me painting hens. I hate to overstate it but, it's true. I can't imagine where my decoy painting would be without it. It's so simple and fast it's crazy! Honestly, I can paint any diver hen in 30 minutes or less because of it. Here is a shot of a can hen, a rb merg hen and ruddy hen that shows it well...

Using latex, the more I leave my brush in the water and, the older/uglier it gets, the better it gets. I hope it helps you as much as it helps me...

Take care and God bless! Pat

 

[leslie riggan]

Is it my eyes or do you start at the tail and go to the front? I'm not a carver yet but anything I can pick up will help when I do take the plunge.

 

[Pat Gregory]

Leslie - Great perception and you are absolutely correct. When stippling these feathers with this style of brush, you always work from back to front on the side pockets and bottom to top in the breast area. You've got a great start on your carving already making judgements like that.

Take care and God bless!