Winter Work
During the warmer months, we divide our time between our workshop, where we craft our decoys, and our gallery, where guests can explore the largest collection of handmade decoys along the Coast of Maine. When the temperature drops we close our unheated gallery. The shop is comfortable, especially working at our temporary painting bench in front of the wood stove. Over Winter is the time to complete pieces we started but didn't have time to finish, and to replenish our inventory for the coming season.It's not as quiet time of year as you might think.
Loon with Chick
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Here's a behind-the-scenes look at a realistic Loon being made. This is the second day of working on this piece. The head and body have been shaped, and I'm in the process of sorting out the primaries (the long crossed feather groups) the chick's head, and the wing covering her. Once carved and sanded the feather layout is drawn and adjusted until it feels right. Only then can the individual feathers be detailed with the burning tool.
Realistic Chickadee
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This little guy is completed except for mounting him on his driftwood base. Designating this piece as fully realistic means that, like the Loon in process above, all the feather details have been burned in prior to painting. The painting is a bit of a chore as well where the feathers are so tiny.
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This particular one is looking to the right. Since these represent living creatures, we try to pose them in the act of doing something. Others have been eating black sunflower seeds. No two are exactly alike. The next one to be completed has his head turned about 45° to the right. The one after that is leaning over to pick up a seed.
Atlantic Puffins
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This pair of lifesize Puffins are laminated White Pine and despite being slicks, are contoured to mimic the actual birds. The way they will eventually be painted depends on the feather groups and wing contours. You can see where I've outlined the head patch and breast that will both be white, as well as the striping on the vibrant red/orange beak. If they are not carved accurately in the first place, painting the color coats can be a horror show.
For you carvers out there, remember, precision in carving is key—after all, bringing these majestic creatures to life through paint is an art form in itself driven by the anatomy of the birds!