Steve Sutton
Well-known member
A month or so ago the site welcomed the arrival of Keith Mueller and much to our benefit he has been a prolific poster of everything from advise on painting to locations to see Toucans in Costa Rica, wooden boats to rocker head decoys, coffee to chocolate, and seemingly everythig in between. It's rare, in my opinion, to find someone whose interests are so far flung as Keith's are and its refreshing to me to know that he enjoys "watching" as much as he does "hunting" because it provides that added dimension that is so obvious, that "did you see that?", when he posts a photo of an Eider trying to swallow a crab that from all appearances would be impossible, or a bird diving in crashing wave.
I always knew that Keith "knew" waterfowl but I never knew that he paid so much attention to those things that so many hunters fail to see while afield and I think that we all benefit from his sharing that "aw shucks" enjoyment with us, both in person and in his most recent book; THE ART IN MAKING DECOYS.
It wasn't long after he started posting that I started talking with him about his book. In the past I have always recommended Grayson Chesser's "MAKING DECOYS THE CENTURY OLD WAY" as "the best" decoy book, not because I think that Grayson is "the best" decoy carver, (although I do believe he is very good), but because his book took the time to explain where, and from who, his motivation was derived, why he carved, and then included not only the "help" necessary to carve and paint but also "stories" about using the decoy. To me that made his book far more "complete" than any of the other, "how to" books....
After seeing Keith's book I've changed my mind about which decoy book I would recommend if someone asked "what book should I get if I was going to carve?" and would further state the if I was only going to own one book that was Waterfowl related it would be The Art In Making Decoys....
"ONE" book to do it all is a pretty bold statement and I definately wouldn't want to own "just one" but if I was, or if I was looking for "the next purchase", it would be this book because it has "something for everyone"....here's why:
At almost 500 pages, in a larger than normal format, (approx 10" x 13"), printed on heavy paper, printed by a First Class Printer so the photographs are of the "best" quaity, loaded with photographs ranging from birds to boats to decoys, (both current and antique), its makes a Waterfolwing Coffee Table book that anyone could appreciate and spend hours with.
As a decoy book Keith can speak to everyone from the newest beginner to the person working on the completion of a piece of work being entered in any competition. He talks structure, and patterns, and paint, and technique, all the while holding your attention with photographs of not only his own, incredible work but also photographs of the live birds that he is carving, of decoys that he has carved, and stories of the carvers that inspired him to reach the level that he has achieved.....
Simply put this "is not" a book on how to carve decoys, rather its a book on "why" people carve decoys, and "why" they strive to move that one additional step forward with each new start and I think that is what makes it stand out from all of the other entries in that market...
Keith posted a picture recently of a "Locked Cocked and Ready to Rock" Great Blue Heron, (which of course I can't find right now), and I saved that picture because I thought it would make a great decoy. My initial thought would have been to make that decoy as a silohuette. After receiving Keith's book when I look at that picture my mind starts thinking not "how simple" but "what can I do to make it something more than I've ever done before"? I do get the chance to chuckle a little since in the picture the bird has a single secondary covert feather twisted out of place and while I'm thinking about "relieving" a wing or adding the striated neck feathers my eye keeps going to that twisted feather, "knowing" that if Keith was doing that same bird that that feather would be out of place on his...from what little I know about Keith I think that he would hope that his book makes everyone take that "next step" whether it be in carving or just looking....
O.K. the title mentions an "offer" so lets get to that......Keith has graciously offered on the site to "remarque" any book purchased at no additional cost. He has offered the site the opportunity to benefit from any book sold through the site by donating a portion of the purchase price to the site to help support it. The purchaser doesn't get a discount but if you were planning on buying the book, and you should, then you will be supporting the site without having to make a direct donation.
So how do you get it, (and aren't you happy that I'm finally getting to the point)?
The book is available in two editions; the Workbook Edition and the Collectors Edition. Both books are hardcover, the workbook has a printed cover and jacket, (photo above), and the collectors has a leather type cover and matching sleeve with gold foil trim and logo. The Collectors Edition is signed and numbered and is limited to 500 copies. Copies of this edition still available. You can purchase the book by calling the publisher Jimmy Hunt at: 631 928 5920 in NY to make payment and shipping arrangements, (make sure you tell him you are a member of Duckboats.net). As stated above, and by Keith on the site, if anyone from the forum purchases a copy and would like it inscribed, and pencil remarqued, let Jimmy know "waterfowl species" you want for the remarque and Keith will mail it from his studio.
The price of the Workbook is $99.00 and the Collectors Edition is $175.00.
Not cheap, for sure, but I do believe well worth the price based on the contents....
Steve
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My wife (a book connoisseur of sorts) made the comment that there are no margins and the font is too small. To which I retorted that this book it FULL of information!!! It's like 1000 pages packed into 500. It is absolutely incredible how much is in there. Worth every penny! 
). I designed this book more artistically rather than following standard publishing protocol (just ask my printer.....I drove him nuts) with my production. He did comment on the smaller font (many times) but I wanted the book to have that certain look, which included the bleed and small font. Tell your wife Thank You for her critique, I appreciate that!! 