Ducks Unlimited Special Awards
Each year Ducks Unlimited sponsors several
special competitions. This year the Special Sculptor Award was
for the best mallard drake. They also have a Sculptor of the
Year Award. Both these were won by Harvey Welch. Lastly
there is a cocktail carving competition.
Mallard Drake by Harvey Welch, Saskatoon, SK
Ducks Unlimited Special Sculptor Award
This is a miniature flat-bottom bird without a base. Another masterful job done by Harvey.
Loon by Harvey Welch, Saskatoon, SK
Ducks Unlimited Sculptor of the Year
Black Necked Stilt
by Leroy Royer
First in Ducks Unlimited Cocktail Carving
Event #2 - Wildlife Sculpture
Division E: Realistic Wood Sculpture
There are two classes in this division: i)
Painted and ii) Natural
Sea Lion
by Byron Crabb
Moose Jaw, SK
First in Class and Division Open
Byron is probably best known for his antler and stone carvings. It was great to have him to do some work in wood, so that I could include it here. I am not sure what the wood is, but it was the end of a badly checked log. For the base, he left the checks as is, but for the sea lion, he filled the checks with a contrasting material.
Byron also had a bull moose in the Painted class. I was greatly impressed by his habitat. Unfortunately the photo did not work out.
Fox by Robert Farthing, Saskatoon, SK
Best of Show Intermediate
This is carved in butternut with an oil finish.
Division H: Relief (All Media)
There are two classes in this division: i)
Antler and ii) Wood and Miscellaneous
The Getaway by Hammond Maurille, Shaunavon, SK
First in Class and Division Intermediate
These two white tail deer were carved in the end grain of a slab of basswood. The detail and texturing were very impressive. The noses and eyes were painted, but the rest was left natural with what I assume is an oil finish.
Division 4: Fish Carving
There are two classes in this division: i)
Realistic Lifesize and ii) Realistic Miniature (max 8" tip-to-tip)
Rainbow Trout by Carl Robblec, Swan River, Manitoba
First in Class and Division Open
This was a full size fish going after a bloodsucker on a rock just in front of it. Both the fish and the habitat were very well done in terms of shape, texture and painting.
