CARVING OUT FUTURE DECOY MAKERS PROJECT Administered by

CARVING OUT FUTURE DECOY MAKERS PROJECT Administered by The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art With Support of a Grant by the National Endowment for the Arts

Instructors by State Florida Bud Evans, St. Augustine Michigan Willy Mc. Donald, Delton Maryland Greg Clark, Sudlersville William Veasey, Elkton North Carolina Jack Cox, Camden Massachusetts Bob Mosher, Hingham Ohio Luke Costilow, Amherst Oregon Maurie Hicks, Jacksonville

Bud Evans is a self-taught decoy carver who began carving in 1980. Since then, Evans has competed in numerous shows and carved over several thousand pieces that include a variety of different bird species. Evans says that the inspiration behind his work comes from his fascination of birds. Throughout his years of carving, he says that he has never grown tired and that each carving is a new challenge to improve his craft. He hopes his students learn the skills and patience required to make an accurate carving as well as the process needed to craft quality pieces. Evans is also the president of two wood-carving clubs in Palatka and St. Augustine, FL.

Bud Evans’s Class: St. Augustine, FL Kay and Chevy Davis Ivan Kurtz

Bud Evans’s Class: St. Augustine, FL Jackie Van Dusen Ray Shields

Greg Clark is a proud native of the Eastern Shore where waterfowl has always been a part of his life. Decoy carving came as an extension of his love for waterfowl, beginning at age 11 when he tried carving with instruction for the first time. During the 1970 s, Clark was a professional hunting guide and did not carve for almost twenty-two years until 1995 when his wife encouraged him to attend a carving class. His art has won several awards and he continues to compete regularly. Clark operates his own business, Pearl Creek Decoys, where he offers classes to the public in addition to selling some of his own work.

Greg Clark’s Class:

William Veasey William “Bill” Veasey is a renowned decorative waterfowl carver who has over 30 years of experience and has contributed much time to the Ward Museum. Veasey is also an author of 14 books and has produced six videos about his carving techniques. His carvings have been featured in numerous shows across the country and have been awarded over hundreds of ribbons and titles. In 2008, Veasey was announced as Decoy Carver of the Year by New Castle County Ducks Unlimited Chapter in Delaware. Veasey is a Ducks Unlimited Hall of Fame inductee in addition to serving as Maryland State Chairman, Regional Vice President and a member on the National Membership Committee.

Bob Mosher is a native of Hingham, MA, a community that has created excellent decoy carving since colonial times. Mosher began carving at a young age after his Uncle would not allow him to borrow his decoys so he had to learn to carve his own. Mosher has won numerous ribbons and awards including several major best in show titles from events across the East Coast. His work has appeared in major decoy auctions and has been selected three times as a teacher for the National Endowment for the Arts project “Carving Out Future Decoy Makers. ” Mosher is the Treasurer of the A. E. Crowell American Bird Decoy Foundation, Inc. and the Minot’s Ledge Chapter of Ducks Unlimited.

Bob Mosher’s Class:

Willy Mc. Donald is a nationally known carving educator and waterfowl expert who has an impressive and well-known collection of hunting decoys that dates back to the 1800 s. Mc. Donald is a frequent judge for decoy shows across the country. In 2003 and 2009, Mc. Donald was selected to participate in Michigan State University Museum's Traditional Arts Apprentice Program as a master carver where he later taught decoy carving for several years. He was honored in 2007 with the prestigious Michigan Heritage Award for his ability to preserve the traditions of hunting decoys and his talent in waterfowl carving and painting.

Willy Mc. Donald’s Class: Becky Sherwood Bob Fleury

Willy Mc. Donald’s Class: Dale Somers Gerald Snelling

Willy Mc. Donald’s Class: Jaden Ashley James Baurs