Latest News - Home Front

Hello everyone,

It has been awhile since many of you have heard from me. Things have been quite busy and hectic this year. Well, things just became much more hectic and I wanted to let everyone know what is going on.

Over the past month Kate had been in and out of the doctors, etc. As of Wednesday of this week, we finally received enough information and specifics to know what is going on. Unfortunately it's not good news.

She was diagnosed with stomach cancer (poorly differentiated signet cell adenocarcinoma). This is a difficult form of cancer that has 0% cure rate. It is currently in stage 4.

On Monday she went into the Hospital due to her kidneys being blocked so stints were put in to see if that will get them flowing again normally. I was able to bring her home yesterday (Thursday). Currently she is resting and hanging out on the coach. Still low on energy and strength. I'm watching over her pretty much all day. Monday we go in and check the kidneys to find out if they are continuing to improve or not. If not, we will be looking at another option (placing tubes in the back). This will then allow full function again.

Once the kidneys are back in proper form, she can then start Chemo treatments. If we have to go with the tubes in the back, it will be a couple weeks before we can start Chemo. Chemo is the only option at this point to give her some time. Surgery is not possible unless we see a reduction in the cancer which only Chemo will be able to do if it can. It will be about 2-3 months after the start of Chemo before we know if the treatment is having any positive impact on the cancer.

That's the latest situation as I know it today. It is my main focus right now until we can get Kate back on her feet. Sorry that I haven't been able to let you know in person or via phone.

Please don't hesitate to pass this along to other friends, family, etc. as I may not have everyone covered. I hate to cut this short, but I at least wanted to get this out while I had a moment.

Thanks, Jerry...

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Update - Quick Status

As you may have noticed, I've been out of communication for awhile. I was tied up taking care of Kate (my wife) as she tore her rotator cuff back in Feb. and had to have surgery in April. She was in the sling for six weeks after surgery which meant she couldn't do anything. She just got out of the sling which means she can start doing Physical Therapy. It will take some months yet to get back to full speed, but she is starting to work on the mobility and strength. This means I can get back to my work and eventually get to full speed as well.

Over the next three months I will be working on a life size hawk which has to be completed by the first of September. During this time I might end up out of communication mode yet again. However, I will try and pick up where I left off on the Kestrel project along with some other topics that I started awhile back.

Until the next posting...

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 - Study Casts

Earlier this week (April 12) I picked up my first batch of study casts for my latest bird carving. That would be the Eastern Blue Jay. This was a great bird to carve and turn into a study cast.

I have spent a number of winters now watching this guy out my kitchen window during the winter months all puffed up and in this restful posture. I finally had a chance to create this bird in wood. Of course, it didn't hurt being pushed to come up with a study cast of the Blue Jay. KV Woodcarving Supply is keeping me on my toes with requests for new casts and books.

This study cast is of a life size Eastern Blue Jay. I am selling these for $40.00 plus shipping & handling. You can also pick one up from any of the retailers I work with. You can get this list from the links page on my website http://www.simchuk.com/24401.html.

A week after I sent the Blue Jay in for molding and casting, I was able to finish a Screech Owl carving. Of course, this bird was well on it's way to being completed before I started working on the Jay.

I was able to get a few study casts of this Screech Owl at the same time I picked up the Blue Jays. Next week I will get the remainder of my initial order.

This is a life size Screech Owl study cast. I based it on a Western, however it can be used as an Eastern as well. I am selling this cast for $47.50 plus shipping & handling.

I plan to have instructional books available to compliment both of these casts in the future. The Screech owl book will be available around October time frame while the Jay will be early next year.

To see the other study casts and books I have available please go to my carving & art products page on my website http://www.simchuk.com/24546.html.

In the Studio

For those who have been following my blog you might have noticed I've been in quite mode for the last couple weeks. There is a good reason for the quite mode. Actually, a number of good reasons.

First, I was out for a week teaching a painting class in Spokane, WA where we painted a Harlequin Drake decoy. This class was a follow up to the carving which was done back in January. I have to say, March was a much nicer time of year to travel and work on this project over in Spokane. This was such a fun class and fun bird to paint. The more of these birds I carve the more I enjoy and appreciate there beauty. The initial plan was to make this a basic/traditional hunting decoy. Well, when I got to the painting stage, it ended up falling outside the traditional painting style since I just wanted to keep adding more detail and flare to the piece. As was the case with the example bird. With this bird I just couldn't help but put in the little extra flare and realistic feathering. By the time I was done it was clear that it was a little better looking bird than the example bird I did before the class in January. This isn't anything new, since I find each time a do a piece it's a little better than the last. Even if I do the same bird back to back. Part of the reason for this is that I'm always looking for ways to improve a piece. I'll post a photo of the finished bird within the next week so you can see it.

The other thing consuming my time when I am back in the studio, I'm work on another project (besides the Kestrel). This project is the subject for my next study cast and book, the Screech Owl. I have a customer who wants a Western Screech Owl, plus I will be teaching a class on this bird later this year (Oct - Nov). Right now I have him roughed out with feather groups all in place. A couple more days and I should be into the texturing. For those interested in the Eastern Screech, not to worry. I will work on the Red phase painting as a supplement to the Western. You will be able to use the Westerns coloration for the Gray phase Eastern. I'm hoping to have the life size study cast available by the first of May.

Just when you thought that was enough going on, I also have an art show that I'm getting ready for. The 5 day Western Heritage Art Show over in Great Falls, MT. This is one of my bigger shows for the year so it's taking a bit of my attention to assure I'm ready for a good show. The show begins Wednesday the 17th. I always look forward to this show as I get to compete with other artists and art mediums with a single piece that is placed in the main lobby area. Last year I was fortunate enough to not only win best carving, but also best of show. I will be hoping for a repeat performance this year as I will take my World piece (Saw-whet Owl), and see how he stacks up against all the other artists in the show along with there various art mediums. I say, hope since there is no way to know what will happen in an apples - oranges judging situation. No matter what it will still be fun and it will be my main piece to show in the lobby this year. As they say, any given day, judge, situation, anything can happen.

Until the next posting, I best be getting back to the few things on my plate.