BLACK DUCK (LIFESIZE)

Hi Dave

Wow! The detail on this birds head is wonderful. Thanks for posting.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

Dave your work is inspiring and beautiful. How many carvings do you figure you’ve done over the years? Do you find the carving or the painting the most difficult part? I know that they are two very different talents (painting and carving) and you seem to have mastered both.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

thats really great. i love seeing your work. they all look so lifelike and beautiful. thanks for all the great post.

another great duck. do you sign your work ?

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

BILL!!
I started this a couple of hours ago, but started hurting really bad, so I layed down for a while. I feel better now.

Well, my ducks and geese number at this time 546. That is over about a 12 or 15 year period (not sure). In the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s I was producing over 1000 carvings a year for a few years….. did about 20 shows a year then, mostly Mall shows…. we were involved with a local circuit of shows within about a 75 or 90 mile radius. I use to have to shut off orders for Christmas October 1rst. Sometimes people would have to pick up there orders on Christmas Eve…. that’s how close I would call it. Of course to do so many carvings, they had to be small magnetics and things like that. At the shows I use to sit and carve small ducks about 3” or so long. I could do one in about 30 or 40 minutes…... people could stand and watch me and be able to see the carving take shape and be completed, from a squared off cut out blank. I use to sell the unfinished one that someone watched being carved, and knock off 50 cents. Occassionally I would carve a simplified large duck about 10” or 12” long that required the banging of chisle and mallet. That would attract people to my set up….sometimes I would have as many as 30 or 40 people at one time watching. That’s when Mall shows were just coming in. I did some of the first mall shows in this area. I was young and full of vigor then. I didn’t use to sign my work, but now I found out how important it is to people. So now I sign everything as best as I can. Some stuff is so small I can only initial it. I have even had people bring back a piece and make me sign it. I had only one person in 47 years that made me carve off my name… (not wanting my signature). I lost one big sale (Canada Goose) , because I forgot to wood burn my name into the bottom of it. SHUCKS!!!

Basically Bill, I really don’t know, to date…..I lost track many many years ago…. when I finaly decided I didn’t really care how many I was doing. I hope this answers some of your questions. By the way I am much slower now, but just as busy, Ha Ha!....... Have a good one…....Dave

-- Dave Leitem,Butler,Pa.,http://dlcarver.etsy.com

fantastic… gorgeous creation.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Hi Bill!
I just realized that your question has two parts…..
It really depends on the carving. If a carving is intricate and the design is many different colors, it will be just as hard or harder to paint it. For instance carving a woodduck is hard enough, but the painting is many different colors, and vermiculations. To paint a woodduck then to paint a canvasback duck is quite different. The woodduck requires the mixing of colors, so you have some unavoidable waste going on…. you need to mix a minimum of what you know you will need for sure. I have , on a project before mixed too little paint, and had to go over it with a new mixture mixed with the proper amount to finish the project. By now I have mastered the processes well enough that I can pretty much match what I have to…. but it wasn’t always like that…........ THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST AND QUESTIONS!............ Dave

-- Dave Leitem,Butler,Pa.,http://dlcarver.etsy.com

Very nice Dave,
I especially like it when the wood grain shows.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1