Competition - Harlequin Drake Decoy

This year I wasn't able to make it back east to the Ward World Championships. However, I was able to get a bird back there through the aid of a local friend/carver (Andrew Speer). Because I couldn't attend and hand carry or deliver my latest greatest pieces I decided to send a nice decoy. The one I did during the Spokane class back in January and March. This being the Harlequin Drake decoy which you can see a couple posts down on this page.

Turned out this bird competed quite well back east. It took best in species (other divers - Harlequin) in contemporary decoys. I'm pleased with this result given the fact it wasn't painted to the highest level of detail that would be needed for the CD category.

The bonus to this bird was the fact it was also entered into a show over in Havre de Grace the weekend after worlds. It had to go into the smoothie category as it was too fancy for a working decoy. In smoothie it took best in species and second best diver. Again, I couldn't be happier with this result. Under the smoothie category it wasn't painted with the highest level of detail one would expect for that category.

I consider myself fortunate to have placed at both of these shows given the fact I didn't do a bird specifically for any given category or competition. The most important thing was doing a bird I really wanted to do for myself (aside from it being a class project). Even if it happens to fall in the middle of the pack as far as detail or lack of detail didn't matter. I have a great bird for my mantle and eventually it will end up on someones mantle to enjoy for many years.

New Release - American Kestrel in Pine

I finished this American Kestrel male this past weekend. This project was one that took place over a number of months with other projects causing it to be placed on hold numerous times. It felt really good to finish him up. It was extra special given that I was able to place the bird on a pine branch presentation.

Originally it was going to be placed on a dead stand which would have been similar to the other Kestrel presentations I've done. The owner saw the Saw-whet piece I did for worlds last year and asked if we could put him in a pine setting. This allowed me the opportunity to explore a concept I've had for sometime now with a broken topped pine tree. I have a couple trees on my property that have broken tops and viewing these trees over the years has always given me the idea of placing a bird up there. The Kestrel was a perfect carving to play with this idea.

Not only exploring the compositional elements, but also playing with new ideas for pedestals. This one used a piece of Butternut with a natural stain to show off the grain of the wood while the color of the wood would work well with the sculpture. Also, I wanted a wood that would tie in well with the Kestrels color a bit more. That turned out to be Cherry wood. I also liked the idea of placing a black spacer in-between the wood blocks to add a touch of class to the piece, yet not overpower it.

One thing I found with these tall presentation sculptures is the need for a solid base. If the base is too narrow it is easily knocked over. I have always loaded the pedestal with lead, but it would still have a sense of instability if bumped just right. So, with this pedestal presentation I widened the base with each layer of wood in addition to the lead weighting. The combination was perfect as this piece has no sense of instability at all. I will be using this design again for other tall sculpture presentations.

To see additional photos of this bird please visit my New Release page on my website http://www.simchuk.com/19601.html

New Release - Harlequin Drake Decoy

As promised, I finally have a chance to post my latest Harlequin Drake Decoy. This is the bird I did in the class I taught in Spokane on both the carving and painting back in January and early March.

I really enjoyed doing this class as it is one of my favorite waterfowl. I'm lucky enough to be in an area where I get to see this bird in the spring while they are inland during the breading season. Up in Glacier National Park we can see them swimming around the glacial waters while they are feeding.

This bird is functional and is ready to hunt over or more likely go in the tank for competition purposes.

To see more photos of this bird go to my New Release page on my website http://www.simchuk.com/19601.html

New Release

After completing the Mallard Drake Club Head I decided to get this Canada Goose Club Head completed as well. This was the head given to me by a fellow carver who challenged me to do a club head. He wanted to see what I could do with it and finally here we are.

This head was a fun project since I was able to work on a goose in decoy style rather than a duck. Granted both ducks and geese are pretty similar in carving and painting techniques, there are however differences with the bills and added length to the neck.

To see more of this piece go to my website: http://www.simchuk.com/19601.html

New Release

After getting back from the Harlequin decoy class in Spokane I was pretty whipped out and wasn't quite ready to get back into the Kestrel project I have in the works. As a result, I decided to do this little guy to ease my way back into the larger Kestrel project.

This Mallard Drake Club Head is a fun project and I was able to stay in the decoy mode that I was in while working on the Harlequin Drake project.

To see more pictures of this little guy check out my website: http://www.simchuk.com/19601.html

New Release

In January I created this Harlequin Drake Decoy so there would be an example for my class in Spokane to see what they would create. This class would carve a functional Harlequin Drake working decoy.

The intent was to have a working decoy style which would be very basic and simple in both carving and painting.

As I proceeded through the carving I decided to provide more definition in the bill and wings which kicked it out of a typical working decoy classification. A traditional working decoy would have no bill detail and the primaries would not be a refined as I have them here.

Also, when I moved into the painting of this bird, I decided to try to give it more interest and pop. This was accomplished through more feathering and blending of colors than one would see on a traditional working decoy where the colors are blocked in.

As a result I have a very attractive looking decoy that I'm quite pleased with.

You can see more photos of this bird on my website: http://www.simchuk.com/19601.html

New Release

I recently completed this Canyon Wren commission which is now posted to my website for people to view http://www.simchuk.com/19601.html. This was a fun project as it allowed me to explore different techniques for creating moss, lichens and the textured surface for the sandstone rock.