Two Teal decoys. Old school meets new graduate.

[Geoff Vine]

From 1909 to 2009. 100 years of decoy style in the making...

It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same. I thought this was a neat photo of these two side by side. Very few fundamental differences. I don't think the ducks would really notice much at 25 yards.

The Blair style Teal was carved for Michael Braun from a pattern he made. He used old photos of a 1900s Blair Greenwing with this non-typical elongated head and thin body. Thank you for the inspiration Mike!

The decoy in the foreground is my latest experiment. Both are cedar with Jansen paint. The Blair will get a tinted glaze treatment that will tone it down and add some sheen.

 

[Mike Trudel]

Geoff, there is hope for you yet! Your "roots" show through in your bird...was that a mistake? (hehe)

 

[TimJ]

Wow, I like those. I'm a big fan of old style lines and paint. The eyes, and lack of them, go well with that look.
Are those going to hit the water?

Tim

 

[Pat Gregory]

Geoff - Great stuff! I appreciate your varying styles, something I covet as a carver. Sent you a pm. Pat

 

[David Robinson]

Geoff,

Have you ever tried pin-stripping a car:^0 Love those dekes!

 

[Rutgers]

Nice decoys, and funny that you posted this today. Yesterday after church, Michele and I spent the afternoon looking at a friends collection of Blair and Winous Point decoys. I have been impressed with the style for some time and drooled over pictures for a while. Holding them in my hands, and seeing the paint, every stroke of the brush perfect, was one of the highlights of my decoy "life". While I like the Stratford work, and with guys like Crowell and Lincoln fetching the prices that they do, I think Blair's work is WAY underrated!

Grayson Chesser once told me that someone who can tell the same story in one paragraph is a much better writer than the guy who needs a couple of pages to get the same point across. In my opinion, John Blair got it done with just one sentence!

 

[Yukon Mike]

Tres cool Geoff! Great looking decoys. Keep those pictures coming.

Mike

 

[John Bourbon]

Hi Geoff. That Blair style decoy is very pretty, BUT that "experimental" style decoy is drop dead gorgeous. I especially like the "bow on" view. The angle of the photo combined with the angular lines of the head and the grain of the wood, all make that pic something that is poster worthy. Nice job!

John

 

[Geoff Vine]

Thanks to all for the great comments. I hope you folks don't mind me sharing these on your forum.


Mr. Trudel - I hate to admit it...but you may be right.

TimJ - All my decoys are built to hunt. The Blair style bird will be floating in a competition this fall. The decoy with no eyes is for a collector in Philly. It will sit on a shelf in his high-rise office building.

Pat - I got your PM and will respond soon. Thanks!

Rutgers - The goal should be to acheive the essence of species in the fewest possible steps. Nothing more, but nothing less. It's is a harder game than at first you would think.

Yukon - Thanks man. Will do on the Pics.

JB - The lines are what it's all about.