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| Drake black duck (cork) made 2003 |
These waterfowl decoys are made to be used for hunting. In fact they are expected to spend time in the water and
witness fowl tolling in over them. P.G. makes three basic types: cork, hollow wood and solid wood (all referring
to the body). Corks feature tan "Chesapeake cork" for the body with a wooden head, keel and tail insert. Hollow
bodies are light two-piece wooden bodies with wooden heads and, sometimes, depending on the decoy, wooden keels. Solid
bodies are one-piece wooden bodies with a wooden head and are heavier for riding in rough open water (mainly diving and sea
ducks).
"I prefer to make all my hunting decoys with thick, tough bills and necks and use oil paints which make these birds
durable during tough use and very capable of tolling in the fowl. I strategically attach various sized lead weights
to the decoy bottoms to properly balance them for perfect floating and self-righting characteristics. Nothing beats
shooting waterfowl over hand-made decoys."
Shorebird Decoys
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| Ruddy turnstone carved in 2004 |
These carving are made from various woods and feature either hardwood bills or metal bills utilizing various types of
nails (e.g. square-cut masonry nails). Eyes are either glass, steel tacks or carved. P.G. carves all his
shorebirds in the gunning tradition and paints them in an "impressionistic" style using oil paints that strays from detailing
each individual feather, but instead uses techniques to simulate the overall look of the feather patterns. This is reminiscent
of the working shorebird decoys of the 19th and early 20th centuries. These decoys are displayed on either hardwood
or driftwood bases. He personally collects all of the driftwood on the Eastern Shore barrier islands, beaches or
marshes which are weathered by Mother Nature, creating natural works of art in and of themselves.
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| Golden plover carved in 2004 |
Ducks & Other Carvings
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| Drake green-winged teal carved in 1995 |
P.G. also carves some ducks for the shelf that are not made to be hunted with. However, they are still made
in the gunning tradition, but no consideration is given to weight or properly balancing the bird for floating. Generally,
the same materials and carving and painting methodology are present as with working decoys.
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| Channel catfish (~ 8") carved circa 1996 |
P.G. has also done a limited number of non-bird carvings including sharks, catfish and killer whales.
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| Common loon carved in 1993 |
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