Kentucky.gov

On Saturday, March 24, woodcarver Bob Gibson of Lawrenceburg, will demonstrate how he carves wooden duck decoys from 10:30 – 3:30 at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Bob Gibson moved to Kentucky in 1979. Bob’s interest in carving decoys developed as an extension of his waterfowl hunting. He began by carving working decoys and progressed to carving miniature and then life-sized decorative decoys. His work is detailed and true to life with a realism that he attains by looking at real specimens, photographs, or by using his own first-hand knowledge.

Each decoy starts by cutting trees from the stand of eastern red cedars that grow on his farm. The wood is dried, and silhouettes are cut from the wood with a band saw. Then a power carver on a flexible shaft, is used to finesse the final shape. Bob uses wood burning tools and a dremmel or power carver to achieve details. Feather colors are achieved by painting the decoy with multiple layers of acrylic paint.

Bob is a juried member of the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program. He also creates a line of feather jewelry as well as carved duck-calls. His work has won several awards in competitions hosted by the Ohio Decoy Collectors and Carvers Association and the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association.

Bob Gibson’s work is regularly featured at the Kentucky Artisan Center, located just off Interstate 75 at exit 77 (Berea). The Center’s exhibits, shopping, and travel information areas are all open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the café from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. The Center currently features works by more than 650 artisans from all across the Commonwealth. For more information call 859-985-5448 or visit the Center’s web site at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov

The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is an agency in the Commerce Cabinet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.