The Decoy Workshop

So stoked to have these miniature #deadmount carvings from @seansuttondecoys I got to go up and visit yesterday and pick them up and have a great conversation about gunning, Decoys, and art! Truly a master of his craft! . . . #decoycarving #duckhunting #handmade #oilpaints #oldhollandpaint #canvasback #mallard

Pluggin along. . . #canvasback #decoycarving #duckhunting #waterfowl #ducks #handmade #cedar

Some good progression shots. . . #canvasback #decoycarving #duckhunting #waterfowl #ducks #handmade #cedar

Starting on a canvasback this morning. Cut out and some basic guidelines on. Got the bill narrowed down a little. Just getting to the starting place. Now it’s time to move some wood. . . #canvasback #decoycarving #duckhunting #waterfowl #ducks #handmade #cedar

This may be my favorite carving ever. This is from 1982 made by a guy from NJ named John Scheeler. He was at the forefront of decorative carving at the time. Something about the composition and realism just translates very well. Amazing piece of modern carving history. #decoys #decoycarving #seaducks #scoters #surfscoter #handmade #folkart #duckhunting

$150,000 - 200,000 estimate on this #bufflehead by Elmer Crowell! Going to auction next week with @guyetteanddeeter #decoys #decoycarving #decoy #handmade #duckhunting #goosehunting #wildfowl #waterfowl #artisan #ducksunlimited #deltawaterfowl #antiques #folkart #oilpainting #oilpaints #oldschool

Ramsey

Step one of painting these bookends. This bird has one coat of thinned (with denatured alcohol) bullseye shellac on it and has been lightly sanded. #decoycarving #cedar #oilpaints #oldholland #ronanpaint #mallard #blackduck #decoy #duckhunting #wardmuseum #1936ward

Step 2 A layer of Ronan "solid covering lampblack" thinned with odorless mineral spirits. This will keep the tannin in the wood from coming through into the paint. (Tips and techniques learned from Keith Mueller) #decoycarving #cedar #oilpaints #oldholland #ronanpaint #mallard #blackduck #decoy #duckhunting #wardmuseum #1936ward

Here's the mallard with the basic layout sketched on with a Prismacolor Watercolor pencil. I'll block out the basic under paint with shades of grey, black, and white. #decoycarving #cedar #oilpaints #oldholland #ronanpaint #mallard #blackduck #decoy #duckhunting #wardmuseum #1936ward

So here is the grey tone base coat. All Ronan paint. Just black and white mixed together. Once that dries, it will give you an ideal surface to put down the tube oil top coats. Also, it helps you know where to lay the color down and "stay within the lines" if you will. This technique is called grisaille: (/ɡrɨˈzaɪ/ or /ɡrɨˈzeɪl/; French: gris [ɡʁizaj] 'grey') is a term for a painting executed entirely in shades of grey or of another neutral greyish colour. It is particularly used in large decorative schemes in imitation of sculpture. #decoycarving #cedar #oilpaints #oldholland #ronanpaint #mallard #blackduck #decoy #duckhunting #wardmuseum #1936ward

Next step is some color. Nothing looks like oil paints. Raw sienna, raw umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt umber. #oldholland #oilpaints #blackduck #decoy #duckhunting #decoycarving #blended #likebutter #cedar

Raw sienna, raw umber, yellow ochre, titanium white, burnt umber. #oldholland #oilpaints #blackduck #decoy #duckhunting #decoycarving #blended #likebutter #cedar

Added ultramarine blue to the raw umber/burnt umber mix to darken it up. #oldholland #oilpaints #blackduck #decoy #duckhunting #decoycarving #blended #likebutter #cedar

With the brown on, gonna let it sit and dry. I'll come back and add details on top next couple times. #oldholland #oilpaints #blackduck #decoy #duckhunting #decoycarving #blended #likebutter #cedar

Painted the bill with cadmium yellow medium, black, white, and a tiny bit of burnt umber to tone down the green.

Blended head. #decoycarving #duckhunting #decoys #decoy #mallard #wardbrothers #cedar #oilpaints