John Lawrence
Active member
Here we are half way through the year already. Hunting season is fast approaching and this should be the time of year that all of us are preparing our new decoys for our rigs.
June was a very transitional month for me on my decoys. I really took some time to stretch out in what I was doing both in shapes and paint. What this has resulted in though is a lot of partially finished pieces. And a lot of new ideas running around my cranium that I can't wait to get to. One decision that I did make was to take a little time every month and make something for myself, something that is going to stay with the family collection and be passed on to a future generation. My thought process on that has arisen from the the PBS show Antiques Roadshow. They are coming here to Pittsburgh in August to film and my wife scored two tickets to the morning film session. If you don't know you are allowed to bring two items per ticket (you must bring at least one) to be evaluated. My wife's family has passed down some really cool things but I don't have anything to take except a couple of the antique decoys from my collection.
But anyway, with that written what I'll start this monthly thread with is the gadwall drake that I'm making for my own rig. The stage you see it in here is with the rump finish painted and the body and back undercoated and ready to be over glazed and then scratch painted to represent the vermiculations. I had planned on doing that earlier this week and taking a video of the process to attach to my web page but I've just been too tired when I come home from work to concentrate. So we are going to do a short video on this coming Saturday morning. I'll let you know how it turns out.
View attachment P6300001.jpg.
This is the other drake gadwall that I've been painting at the same time. Since I have been trying to paint them differently I've found it easier to separate the processes by painting them on different days. I tries some new ideas out in my under glazes that I think will add a lot of translucence to the paint. I've been using the Impasto method on this decoy so that the paint is thick and textured.
View attachment P6300002.jpg.
And just a little detail of the wing and rump. I still plan on adding some paint to this area.
View attachment P6300003.jpg.
Here is the pair of wigeon that I'm making from some New Jersey cedar. The drake has his first coat of primer and the hen is just about ready to hollow.
View attachment P6300004.jpg.
And last for me to start July is a pair of ruddies. I love making ruddy ducks but I haven't made any in a couple of years. These are pine bodies and basswood heads. Well over sized and very fat. Next time you see them they'll have some paint on them.
View attachment P6300005.jpg.
I have a lot more in process that Ill show later this month.
Now on a side note the Pirates will finish the first half of the season with a winning record, first time in about eighteen years. A bunch of young kids and no names who are just hustling out wins. I used to be a huge baseball fan but have drifted away from the game because my team has been so bad. But I'm getting interested again. Just think we have the Steelers and the Penguins who usually challenge every year, and now we are getting baseball back, good time to be living in Pittsburgh.
What's on your Workbench this summer?
June was a very transitional month for me on my decoys. I really took some time to stretch out in what I was doing both in shapes and paint. What this has resulted in though is a lot of partially finished pieces. And a lot of new ideas running around my cranium that I can't wait to get to. One decision that I did make was to take a little time every month and make something for myself, something that is going to stay with the family collection and be passed on to a future generation. My thought process on that has arisen from the the PBS show Antiques Roadshow. They are coming here to Pittsburgh in August to film and my wife scored two tickets to the morning film session. If you don't know you are allowed to bring two items per ticket (you must bring at least one) to be evaluated. My wife's family has passed down some really cool things but I don't have anything to take except a couple of the antique decoys from my collection.
But anyway, with that written what I'll start this monthly thread with is the gadwall drake that I'm making for my own rig. The stage you see it in here is with the rump finish painted and the body and back undercoated and ready to be over glazed and then scratch painted to represent the vermiculations. I had planned on doing that earlier this week and taking a video of the process to attach to my web page but I've just been too tired when I come home from work to concentrate. So we are going to do a short video on this coming Saturday morning. I'll let you know how it turns out.
View attachment P6300001.jpg.
This is the other drake gadwall that I've been painting at the same time. Since I have been trying to paint them differently I've found it easier to separate the processes by painting them on different days. I tries some new ideas out in my under glazes that I think will add a lot of translucence to the paint. I've been using the Impasto method on this decoy so that the paint is thick and textured.
View attachment P6300002.jpg.
And just a little detail of the wing and rump. I still plan on adding some paint to this area.
View attachment P6300003.jpg.
Here is the pair of wigeon that I'm making from some New Jersey cedar. The drake has his first coat of primer and the hen is just about ready to hollow.
View attachment P6300004.jpg.
And last for me to start July is a pair of ruddies. I love making ruddy ducks but I haven't made any in a couple of years. These are pine bodies and basswood heads. Well over sized and very fat. Next time you see them they'll have some paint on them.
View attachment P6300005.jpg.
I have a lot more in process that Ill show later this month.
Now on a side note the Pirates will finish the first half of the season with a winning record, first time in about eighteen years. A bunch of young kids and no names who are just hustling out wins. I used to be a huge baseball fan but have drifted away from the game because my team has been so bad. But I'm getting interested again. Just think we have the Steelers and the Penguins who usually challenge every year, and now we are getting baseball back, good time to be living in Pittsburgh.
What's on your Workbench this summer?
