Please join ten-time Ward World Champion Gary Eigenberger (twenty-three-time Best in Masters award winner and 2nd in Interpretive World) in carving a life-size juvenile Cooper's Hawk with foot from tupelo wood. The juvenile 15" Cooper's Hawk is identified by its brown upper feathers with pale buff or rufous fringes, contrasting with its white or buff-colored underparts that have thin, dark brown vertical streaks. The striking yellow eyes give the bird a hooded look. The bird will be painted in oils; acrylics are also acceptable. Feather splits will be burned in along with the major feather shafts, and some feathers will be undercut. The bird will be carved from a single piece of wood. Combination stoning and texturing techniques will be used. Topics include feather layout, texturing, and burning.

Gary will focus on preparing the surface for painting, mixing colors, and oil painting techniques (wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry), as well as soft translucent painting methods. He will also demonstrate techniques using acrylics for those who prefer them. Students should bring reference photos. Some wood bases will be available for purchase. Students may choose either a tupelo blank or a basswood blank.

Join Gary Eigenberger in carving and painting a half-size female Barred Owl out of tupelo wood in a relaxed, fluffed-up posture. The Barred Owl has a large round face with no ear tufts, soft brown-and-white striped plumage, and soulful brown eyes. The bird will be carved from a single piece of wood, with feather splits burned in and selective undercutting to suggest feather layers. Combination stoning and texturing techniques will be used.

Gary will teach surface preparation, color mixing, and oil painting techniques (including wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry), as well as soft translucent painting methods. Acrylics are also acceptable. Students should bring reference photos; some wood bases will be available for purchase. Students may choose either a tupelo blank or a basswood blank.

Join award-winning contemporary antique decoy carver Ken Hussey to create traditional working decoys in the Long Point Bay style. The primary project will be a Green-winged Teal hen carved from cedar and aged to simulate an early-1900s working decoy. Ken will demonstrate traditional tools and techniques (drawknife, spokeshave, knives, rasps) as well as options for power-tool use. The class includes base-coat painting and aging/distressing techniques to create either a "Pristine" or "Worn" look, plus patina finishing.

Ken is a consistent Blue Ribbon winner in the Contemporary Antique Decoy Division at major decoy shows in both Canada and the USA. Ken has won several Best of Show (Contemporary Antique) at the Ward World Championship, the Canadian National Wildfowl Carving Championship, the Ohio Carvers and Collectors Show and the New Orleans Show. Ken has been teaching carving for over forty years, including twelve years at the Haliburton School of the Arts (similar to this class). Carving clubs seek Ken out to teach seminars and club carving classes. Ken has also been a judge at carving competitions in both Canada and the USA.

A Black-bellied Plover will also be included as a secondary project to work on while paint dries. Ken will concentrate on antiquing processes, paint layering, and finishing to achieve authentic period looks.