It's March What's on your workbench?

Thanks Eric and Steve! The piece is currently in a collection in Tennesee. This collector has a large collection of my work from decoys to decoratives including the "Goodspeed Cafe"- ( two common mergansers and cormorant fighting over the eel), the flying Chuck Wills Widow, and a whole bunch of other pieces and decoys. The overall piece is approx 48 inches long, and the birds are about 1/2 size. I will look and see if I have another image of the whole piece.

Thanks again,

Keith
 
Just finished up this wigeon for donation to the Connecticut Waterfowlers Association. Cork/Oils, Ipe keel.


Click to expand...

Great bird Bill--Thanks for the support--one of my personal favorites- I would definetly like to add this one to my rig
 
Just finished up this wigeon for donation to the Connecticut Waterfowlers Association. Cork/Oils, Ipe keel.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u302/Billwigeon/Embacher%20Decoys/wigeon3.jpg[/img][/url]
Click to expand...

Does the tail have an insert? If not I would worry about breaking the tail off. I would break it off eventually. Nice paint and shape though.
 
Thanks Andy, no insert on the tail, I leave the tails thick and well supported by the shape of the decoy (they don't stick out far from the rump) and have yet to break a tail, some of my birds have been "in service" for close to 10 years without breaking. The only extra support i give them, if you can call it that, is an extra coat or two of spar varnish on weak areas. Not sure if it makes a big difference or not, just the way I do it.
 
I made steady progress on these two in the last few weekends just about ready for paint.
IMG_2281_edited-1.jpg

 
This is only the third decoy I've carved, the other two being Mallards. My goal was to make a kind of old looking decoy to include with a Bufflehead Mount that is currently at the taxidermist. I used black cork because I wanted it to have some voids and a rougher look to it. I've rounded the body but haven't done wing pockets yet and don't know if I'm going to. A lot of the older decoy's I've looked at were very simple in their carving. Any way, I roughed out the body and head. I still need to work on the bill (kept having to tell myself it wasn't a mallard). And it needs eyes. I have cork and wood for 3 more so I'll probably seal and paint this one and move on to the next to improve on it. all coments welcome.

The first profile shot the area near the tail looks really flat, not sure why, maybe the camera see's something my eye can't?

25851_654155525026_10514206_37192895_3271724_n.jpg


Over head

25851_654155530016_10514206_37192896_4318190_n.jpg


25851_654155539996_10514206_37192897_5880062_n.jpg

 
Hi Charles,
I wish my third decoy looked that good. I work with a lot of black cork and would
be concerned with the strength of the tail. I use pine inserts for all my black cork
blocks. My decoys are always standing on their tails in pocket bags and they take
a lot of abuse. If I can figure this picture thing I'll show what I do.
I have some black cork birds that are 6 seasons old and are ugly but holding up well.
You're right not to get too fancy with this cork, John
 
Hi John, thanks for the complement. My original plan was to do a tail board, but I wanted to concentrate on the shape of the body and head first since I've never carved a buffie before. This is actually the first decoy I've taken from pattern through carving. The first two started as cutouts from the Duck Blind. I have some learning to do as far as cutting on a band saw goes, luckily I get along with shop teacher at work and he lets me use the shop after hours.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top