Wildfowl Carving And Collecting

Interviews a dozen of the best bird carvers, describes how they got started, and shows examples of their work

Step-by-step instructions for carving and painting three decorative upland gamebirds. Instructions for setting glass eyes without epoxy. Detailed full-colour photography illustrates specific carving and painting techniques. THE AUTHOR: Ernie Muehlmatt is a three-=time winner of the Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition, winning twice in miniatures and once in decorative lifesize. A member of the Carvers Hall of Fame, Ernie's bird carvings are included in some of the leading public and private collections in the country, including the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Sailsbury, Maryland; the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin; and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. Muehlmatt is best known for his one-piece sculptures, which have helped to elevate the status of bird carving to the level of a serious art form, and for his use of woodburning for colour. For many years he delighted in sharing his skills with legions of students across the United States. Ernie and his wife, Kathy, reside in Salisbury, Maryland. 155 colour & 35 b/w photographs 8 1/2 x 11"

Birds of a Feather offers an introduction to the art and history of an important Louisiana tradition. Part 1, "Early Working Decoys," features the utilitarian yet artistic expressions created in seven geographic areas of Louisiana from the mid-nineteenth through the mid-twentieth centuries. Part 2, "Contemporary Carvings," traces the evolution of decoy carving from a folk art to a competitive art and features decoys by some of today's most celebrated decorative carvers, including Jimmie Vizier and Tan and Jett Brunet. This catalog accompanied a 2007-8 exhibition at The Historic New Orleans Collection.