John Lawrence
Active member
First Happy New Year, may 2011 be better for all of us.
Personally I've been busy working on decoys this past month. I had a busy fall and the more time I spent away from my decoy table the more I had the itch to get at them. I was able to find some time to paint on my three hen wood duckslast month. Since these are for my own use, at least at this point, I only work on them when I can squeeze in a little free time. What I did was continue with the over glazes on the backs. That process was to use several different reds mixed with two differtent blues to make values of magenta and purples. I applied these over a week long period until I achieved the darkness I prefer. Once that was done I painted in the feather edges with a value of black that I mixed from some burnt umber and ultra marine blue, and I think I mixed in a little diox purple just to make someting a little different. I layed down the basic feather shape with a fine brush and then used the Leow and Cornell series 7200 10/0 micro fan blender that I've told you about to soften the front edge and make a nice transition. I've made some progress on the side pockets as well to the point where I have roughed in the white "darts" on the feathers. I still want to add some more warmth and darkness to these areas when I have the time. At this rate I'll have them done by next October for our early split here in Pennsylvania. At least that's my plan.
View attachment PC300059.jpg
View attachment PC300060.jpg
The next couple of photos are of ringneck hens. In November at Easton I sold the pair of ringnecks I had and what is kind of funny is that once the were off the table I had a bunch of people come asking for them. In my observation what usually happens is that people make a loop around the dealer's tables to shop and see what is available to their liking. Then they go back to buy. I think that is what happened to me but for good or bad I had already sold my ringers. So I'm making more. This first hen is carved from Pennsylvania white pine that a friend gets for me from a sawmill in Northern PA. It's kiln dried and clear. This decoy was cut out of a stick that was 4"x12"x6'. And as I've written before this wood carves very similarly to cedar and when hollowed is very comparable. What I like best about it is not only is it less expensive than cedar and easier to obtain, but is more ding resitant.
One additional item that I would like to tell you about are the eyes I used. These are Van Dyke's blended eyes for pheasants. They have a wonderful redish brown to yellow blend with a black limbus band. I used them on my last ringneck hen and got quite a few comments about them. I frequently look for something different in the eyes than are normally used, just makes for one more aspect that is unique. Maybe they would work for you also.
On this decoy I wanted a wide profile that will float well so I drew that pattern I'd say about 125% the size of a live bird. So I'd guess you'd call it a magnum. For the head I wanted something really different than the pattern books show us. The ringneck's head is just so interesting and can be so many different shapes so why copy someone else's version? I also "personalized" the shape of the bill by widening it and exaggerating the sweep of the lower part of the upper mandible. It's sealed now and I'll get to painting her sometime this month. Looking forward to it actually. My plan is to have the drake that matches her done for Westlake so if you like ringnecks stop by and take a look at them.
View attachment PC300057.jpg
Here is another hen ringneck that is currently on my workbench. It's carved from red cedar that was cut down in my nieghborhood and was given to me. Several things that I think are interesting are that I wanted a different shape for this decoy than the first. A little lower and more compact which was partly a function of how big a piece of wood I had and partly because I have been exploring making smaller shapes over the last few months. As I have been carving this decoy the head has evolved to an attitude of slightly looking up. I think some of this comes from the angle of the neck shelf and some comes from the deep sweep of the bottom edge of the upper mandible. I don't use study bills much anymore so my bills don't really match what you would see in a competition. In fact I don't even own a ringneck study bill, hen or drake. Once again part of my philosophy to be different from the pattern book guys. In any case I like the attitude of the head and I'm going to leave it that way.
The grain of red cedar is so interesting that I'm planning on a paint scheme where I use a lot of translucent glazes so that the grain will show through and become part of the overall effect. Once again something for later this month.
View attachment PC300061.jpg
And lastley what I have to show you is a miniature Labrador duck drake. I don't make very many miniatures. I find them difficult because of the size of my hands. I think that I've made less than a dozen in close to 30 years of making decoys. But I just came up with this idea one day at work, made a quich sketch and this is where it lead. He's carved from a peice of scrap basswood I had laying around and is destined to be a donation for an upcoming show. He's about 3 1/2" tall.
View attachment PC300062.jpg
So here we are in a new year with the show season just about to commence. Why don't we start something new with this thread for 2011? If you feel you can, please tell us a little about your process for what you've been working on. You don't have to divulge any of your trade secrets but possibly expound on what you idea or concept is. I'm sure many of us would like to know about your challenges in what you are making and how you've achieved success.
With all this written What's on your Workbench this January of 2011?
Personally I've been busy working on decoys this past month. I had a busy fall and the more time I spent away from my decoy table the more I had the itch to get at them. I was able to find some time to paint on my three hen wood duckslast month. Since these are for my own use, at least at this point, I only work on them when I can squeeze in a little free time. What I did was continue with the over glazes on the backs. That process was to use several different reds mixed with two differtent blues to make values of magenta and purples. I applied these over a week long period until I achieved the darkness I prefer. Once that was done I painted in the feather edges with a value of black that I mixed from some burnt umber and ultra marine blue, and I think I mixed in a little diox purple just to make someting a little different. I layed down the basic feather shape with a fine brush and then used the Leow and Cornell series 7200 10/0 micro fan blender that I've told you about to soften the front edge and make a nice transition. I've made some progress on the side pockets as well to the point where I have roughed in the white "darts" on the feathers. I still want to add some more warmth and darkness to these areas when I have the time. At this rate I'll have them done by next October for our early split here in Pennsylvania. At least that's my plan.
View attachment PC300059.jpg
View attachment PC300060.jpg
The next couple of photos are of ringneck hens. In November at Easton I sold the pair of ringnecks I had and what is kind of funny is that once the were off the table I had a bunch of people come asking for them. In my observation what usually happens is that people make a loop around the dealer's tables to shop and see what is available to their liking. Then they go back to buy. I think that is what happened to me but for good or bad I had already sold my ringers. So I'm making more. This first hen is carved from Pennsylvania white pine that a friend gets for me from a sawmill in Northern PA. It's kiln dried and clear. This decoy was cut out of a stick that was 4"x12"x6'. And as I've written before this wood carves very similarly to cedar and when hollowed is very comparable. What I like best about it is not only is it less expensive than cedar and easier to obtain, but is more ding resitant.
One additional item that I would like to tell you about are the eyes I used. These are Van Dyke's blended eyes for pheasants. They have a wonderful redish brown to yellow blend with a black limbus band. I used them on my last ringneck hen and got quite a few comments about them. I frequently look for something different in the eyes than are normally used, just makes for one more aspect that is unique. Maybe they would work for you also.
On this decoy I wanted a wide profile that will float well so I drew that pattern I'd say about 125% the size of a live bird. So I'd guess you'd call it a magnum. For the head I wanted something really different than the pattern books show us. The ringneck's head is just so interesting and can be so many different shapes so why copy someone else's version? I also "personalized" the shape of the bill by widening it and exaggerating the sweep of the lower part of the upper mandible. It's sealed now and I'll get to painting her sometime this month. Looking forward to it actually. My plan is to have the drake that matches her done for Westlake so if you like ringnecks stop by and take a look at them.
View attachment PC300057.jpg
Here is another hen ringneck that is currently on my workbench. It's carved from red cedar that was cut down in my nieghborhood and was given to me. Several things that I think are interesting are that I wanted a different shape for this decoy than the first. A little lower and more compact which was partly a function of how big a piece of wood I had and partly because I have been exploring making smaller shapes over the last few months. As I have been carving this decoy the head has evolved to an attitude of slightly looking up. I think some of this comes from the angle of the neck shelf and some comes from the deep sweep of the bottom edge of the upper mandible. I don't use study bills much anymore so my bills don't really match what you would see in a competition. In fact I don't even own a ringneck study bill, hen or drake. Once again part of my philosophy to be different from the pattern book guys. In any case I like the attitude of the head and I'm going to leave it that way.
The grain of red cedar is so interesting that I'm planning on a paint scheme where I use a lot of translucent glazes so that the grain will show through and become part of the overall effect. Once again something for later this month.
View attachment PC300061.jpg
And lastley what I have to show you is a miniature Labrador duck drake. I don't make very many miniatures. I find them difficult because of the size of my hands. I think that I've made less than a dozen in close to 30 years of making decoys. But I just came up with this idea one day at work, made a quich sketch and this is where it lead. He's carved from a peice of scrap basswood I had laying around and is destined to be a donation for an upcoming show. He's about 3 1/2" tall.
View attachment PC300062.jpg
So here we are in a new year with the show season just about to commence. Why don't we start something new with this thread for 2011? If you feel you can, please tell us a little about your process for what you've been working on. You don't have to divulge any of your trade secrets but possibly expound on what you idea or concept is. I'm sure many of us would like to know about your challenges in what you are making and how you've achieved success.
With all this written What's on your Workbench this January of 2011?
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