I grew up in the Toronto area of southern Ontario to a father that came from a long line of wildfowlers and a mother whose family fished over hunted. Work brought my parents to the city, but their hearts never left the country. It was from them at an early age I learned to prefer outside to in. My love of the outdoors was so great I decided early on to make it my career and after school, work, returning to school, I now call myself a fish and wildlife ecologist and now ply my trade as the Environmental Education Co-ordinator for BC Hydro. My job has taken me all over Canada working in some of the best and depending on the bugs and the weather worst places on earth! I now call Maple Ridge, British Columbia (greater Vancouver) home after 8 years in New Brunswick. I am father to Hannah (2002), husband to Sherrill Carving for me started early as I grew up in a house with parents that helped you find your way over those that put up obstacles. My first attempt followed the iceberg principle of floating and through the years off and on again I attempted the art of the decoy. 1998 saw a new need to return to my carving and finally having some stability in my career the bug bit, and it bit big time! I've completed just about 500 birds as of Fall 2009. I compete and have done well but the BOS circle eludes me, I’ve ribboned over 100 times, but only in the top 3 once. A 2nd Best of Show (BOS) with a drake eider at the Chessie challenge is a proud moment for me, with a first in species at the worlds with a drake eider is ranks about the same. For the last few years I haven’t competed and just focus my energy on the “tweener” style I like so much. However I grew up a wildfowler and will die a wildfowler, so it’s seeing my birds working that brings me joy. Nothing beats seeing a bird swimming in your decoys without a care in the world! My carvings have developed with the aid of books, the Internet and of course the phone. My face-to-face time with other carvers can be counted in the hours on my hands. Having ploughed the hard road I do what I can to help others find soft ground, my shop is open to all with but 1 rule applied, “Pass on what you learn to someone else”. Given the choice I carve working birds following no rules but my own with eiders having a special place for me. Black ducks haunt me like dividing by 1/2 infinitely, you get close to zero, but you never reach it. I love the scrap of a whistler’s wing on frozen air, trying to bring them closer starts with shavings on my floor. Cedar is the medium I enjoy the most with hand and power tools all touching my work before it’s done. Traditional oils paint and oil painting technique is now what graces my birds after trying most of the mediums out there. I just find oils are right for me, and right for the way I wish to portray my birds. If I can give but one tip to a new carver, find a mentor before you start. When it comes to making my own, and doing so in relation to chasing feather creatures my mind never sleeps, and a restless mind breeds restless hands. So as long as there is wood I will be doing something.
About Me
Name: Ian Feir
 
Years Carving: Serious since 1999
 
Favourite Species: Eiders
 
Major Influences (modern):
Keith Mueller & Mike Harde,
 
Major Influences (historic):
Elmer Crowell & Shang Wheeler
 
Advice: Find a mentor, and carve a decoy with them before you buy a thing!
 
Carving Quote: “Help anyone that is first willing to help themselves”  Shang Wheeler
 
The Partridgecreek Philosophy
 
Contact: Click Here!
 
GP