May 2012 - Work in Progress

A pair of northern shoveler decoys in the works..

April 2012 - Miniature Decoys

There is a category at some decoy/bird carving competitions for "cocktail" or "champagne" miniature decoys.  The reference to coctail/champagne because they have to be small enough to float in a wide cocktail glass (3.5").  It's kind of a novelty category.  This year, I entered two of these tiny decoys at the Ward Foundation "World Champtionship" carving competition and came in 1st and 2nd in the division.  These little things have to float.  They are carved in a very light wood but even so, I had to hollow the Shoveler to get it to float correctly.  Both are carved from a solid piece of tupelo gum and painted in oils..  The red-breasted merganser's crest was made from an old paint brush.

Red-breasted merganser (male)

another view of the red breasted merganser

Norther shoveler (male)

From September 2010

Some red crossbills carved to be used as decoys for trapping and banding birds.

Juvenile, in progress

Juvenile

Female

Male

Finished work from April 2010

Better late than never... American Woodcock, Wood and oil paint. 2010

Recent Carvings

I guess it's like the plumber's leaky sink - my paintings don't get framed, the decoys are in my studio rather than on the mantle and I always wait until the last minute to have Amy photograph my finished work. I think back on all of the carvings that I made and sold when I was carving full-time. I probably photographed less than 5% of the total. Well, these at least made it to the portfolio (thanks to Amy)!

Blue winged teal decoy (male)
-hollow white cedar and oil paint


Northern Shoveler (male)
- hollow white cedar and oil paint


Thanks for looking.

Recent Bird Paintings

Common Yellowthroat - 2009 - oil on panel

Blue Jay - 2008 - oil on panel

Onions 2008

I hadn't ever thought much about onions being interesting until trying to paint one. The depth of color resulting from light shining on the translucent layers of skin provide many possible interpretations.

The painting with the tomato can was started over 10 years ago at Chris Pugliese's old studio. I pulled it off of the shelf primarily as an excuse to paint the contrasting letters and shapes on the white can. It took me half a day to locate the same can of tomatos. I found the can at the same vegetable stand that I purchased the original 10 years ago - probably should have checked there first...