Steve Sanford, or other decoy carvers,

Dani

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Does anyone have a paint scheme for a breeding plumage drake ruddy duck? I have one that I would like to finish up and I thought maybe someone had a list of colors already for them. Somewhere I have an article from Wildfowl Carving that covers the painting of a drake ruddy but I haven't a clue where it is so I figured I'd ask here.

Thanks a lot,

Dani
 
Hi Dani,

While I post infrequently and lurk constantly, I have been a carver of gunning decoys since the mid 1980's. I have never carved a Ruddy, but have access to paint schemes. "Decorative Decoy Designs/Diving Ducks, Volume II, by Bruce Burk copyright 1990 covers the painting of decorative decoys.

What follows is Mr. Burks' recommendations for a "Ruddy Duck Male/Winter Plumage."

Head & Neck

Upper bill - white,raw umber
Lower bill - black, white with some cadmium orange
Forehead and crown -burnt umber edged with white and raw umber
Cheeks and chin - white, raw umber
Neck and hind-neck - white, raw umber

Body

Back, scapulars and rump - Burnt umber speckled with white, raw umber & raw sienna
Sides - White, black, raw umber speckled with white & burnt umber
Chest - White, raw umber. Feathers edged with white, black & raw umber
Flanks -burnt umber, raw sienna, white. Feathers edged with white, raw umber raw sienna

Tail

Upper surface - burnt umber, raw sienna
Lower surface - raw umber,raw sienna, white

Wing/Primaries

Burnt umber, raw umber, white

Whew...no wonder I've never carved a Ruddy. Well, you have what you need if you're painting a decorative, and way more than you need if you're painting a gunner. I hope this helps.

Stay safe,

Dave
 
Dani, You might want to scrounge up a copy of
DUCKS GEESE AND SWANS OF NORTH AMERICA, by Francis H. Kortright
It contains some interesting descriptions that can be transposed to colors.
Reddish-chestnut Burnt sienna, a bit of carbon or mars black and a bit of burnt umber. Once you look at images and play with translations of what to do to make the colors, it's a piece of gateau!
I think Bill Veasey has a decent reference for mating plumage ruddy also.
Have fun with the red ducky!
Curious, why are you making a non-hunting plumed ruddy drake?
 
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