different brant heard styles, waiting for cork to finish head area only have canvas for one more brant will have to wait till after Christmas to order more.
the wife wants to keep on of the brant.

brant

 

In progress oil on wine case lid.

Photo of Ringneck Duck mounts was taken at the Pymatuning Waterfowl Museum. A beautiful building built by the CCC that was full of all types of wildlife that inhabit the area. Sadly the building, and museum no longer exist. The museum was wealth of reference and knowledge. Thankfully over the years I took many photo's.















"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

Love the ringneck Vince

I went to the garage to get some cork down to work on making a black duck decoy. Now I need to figure out what to do with carpenter ant damaged cork. The ants died a hopefully horrible death.

Dani,

Be certain that those Carpenter ants are not resident in your home. They can cause extensive damage that is very costly to repair... Every bit as bad as having a termite infestation.

We had some that made a nest in our old home. They typically find a water source (like a leaking fridge water feed in our case) and make a nest very close by.

I waged a long war with them and finally prevailed.

Those little black bastards.





Don't just do something, Stand there!

Beautiful work by everyone
Here's my contribution

Todd,

Thankfully my garage is far detached from my home. Also, my garage is metal....just the workbenches and shelves inside are wood. I am getting traps/poison to place around just to make sure they are truly gone and not relocated into my shelving somewhere.

Dani

 
Dani,

Thank you. Working on shading and lettering now when the light is right.



OH BOY..... Carpenter Ants = Nasty. I dunno, if you repair that piece it will take lotta cork dust & glue/varnish, etc. Might be some Teal bodies in there somewhere.

We get em about every 4-5 years. I gotta keep a eye on my supply of carving wood and cork. Most of the cork is wrapped in Industrial Strength Plastic from now defunct Westinghouse. Most likely a not "earth friendly" plastic, but it sure does work. Last Summer we had the itty bitty ants, and traps worked very well.

Trout love large Carpenter Ants. Thatz the only thing I like about them.


Best regards
Vince











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

 

Patrick,

Very unique and artistic take on Black Duck decoys. Those keels are WHHooooo WWWeeeee sturdy son of a guns.

Wonderful carving and finish. The tails appear to be darn good handles to toss em out, and pick em up ASAP. Years of use and some shot marks will only make em look better.

Two thumbs up.


Best regards
Vince











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

Patrick~


Amazing as always! My favorite shot is the Peregrine's-eye view over the back. Your relief carving is spectacular!


All the best,


SJS

Steven Jay Sanford
Pencil Brook Farm
South Cambridge, NY
http://www.stevenjaysanford.com

Patrick, those are some very unique Black Ducks and keels. Do you paint in oil or acrylics?

Tom

I remember that museum...very cool place when it was open. Wish I would have stopped in there more now that its gone. Nice painting there Vince!!












http://www.46north-nbcalls.com

Thanks Tom
Oils

Vince thanks your exactly right on the tails. My son will no doubt put a distressed finish on them.
The keels are made from cumaru very hard and dense wood.

SJS. Thanks I'm trying and having fun doing it. The birds will be the judges.

Patrick - I learned long ago a good gunning decoy needs a "form fittin' " handle or in some situations it becomes a PITA. Gunnin' decoys are tactile for human's, not so for the birds they toll. I'm thinkin' yer son will put just the right usage finish on em.











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

Basically a repeat of my July workbench. Samuel turned 1 this week, his party is tomorrow. I am doing all I can to make duck hunters to take me in my old age!





Dave Diefenderfer
Manassas, VA

"Once you set out to build a boat, throw away your square. And if you work on her after she's launched, throw away your level." author unknown

Vince,
That ring bill is some of your absolute best work!!
You nailed that one, paisan.


MLBob

"Art is like an ill-trained Labrador retriever that drags you out into traffic." (Annie Dillard)

....Here's to Joe Wooster, who made me realize that the useful could and should be beautiful; and who firmly believed that decoy carvers were the last free men in America.

https://www.facebook.com/KOOIdecoy?ref=hl

 

Thanks Bob.

I dunno...

Just finished the shading, and lettering over chalk, then wash the chalk off and see how it looks. Will post some photos when complete.

Have been trying to balance art & hunting to keep busy. I'm sure that you understand.


Best regards
Vince











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

 
Watercolor on cardboard, 9 1/2" w x 6 1/2 h. Will migrate to a new home soon.














"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

Good morning, Vince~


Great effect on that lush green grass!


All the best,


SJS

Steven Jay Sanford
Pencil Brook Farm
South Cambridge, NY
http://www.stevenjaysanford.com

Dani, I don?t know if you remember my post from years ago but carpenter ants love brown cork too. Their work is quite a conversation starter.

So sweet of those ants. Though at least your piece is a nice piece of art. Mine, they just ate the middle out of

My uncle and aunt are spending the winter down here. They used to live in MT but now live in an RV. My uncle works as a diesel mechanic in Prudhoe Bay area three weeks on, three weeks off. Anyway, I was talking about carpenter bees with my dad. Then they were over at my house and my uncle saw a piece of my cork and he said I had worms. I said nope....carpenter ants. He is like...carpenter bees? carpenter ants? WTH?? Yup....lotsa house destroying organisms down here....

 
Thanks Steve.

I'm fond of all shades of green. The rest is just being left handed then letting the brush and paint do what they do.


Best regards
Vince











"Art does not reproduce what is visible - but makes things visible." ~ Paul Klee, artist, 1920

I still see a duck in there Brad...albeit a mighty small one.












http://www.46north-nbcalls.com