DWANE ONG

Where are you from?
Southgate, MI (suburb of Detroit)

When did you start?
Approximately 2000

Why did you start?
I was layout hunting and thought it would be cheaper than buying cork or wood birds.

Favorite specie to carve?
Hopefully it will continue to be whatever species I'm working on right now.

Favorite specie to hunt?
I cut my teeth on divers from a layout, and it'll always be my first choice.

If you compete, what level (Novice, Intermediate, Open, etc.) and Category?
I don't have to worry about "labels" in the gunner competitions.

Most memorable win?
1st Shooting Rig BOS at Westlake

Favorite Show?
ODCCA / Westlake

Most influence on your carving style?
My current needs as a hunter mixed w/ the little things I like in old and current decoys.

Who started you - mentor(s)?
Willy McDonald

Favorite medium? (Type of wood and paint)
Cedar / Oil

What are you working on now? Future plans?
Currently working on a puddler rig.

Favorite style of carving ( Decorative, antique, gunners, IWCA, shorebird)
Gunning decoys

If you could add three birds to your collection, what specie and from whom?
Three is not nearly enough, so I'll start with a pair of Marty Hanson Cans, and then I'll take the Crowell Pintail (that way I could sell the Crowell pintail and buy Godin, Christie, Matus, Johannsen, Rhode, Mueller, Gibian, McIntosh, McNair, P.Peterson, and probably a few others.)

Most difficult part of carving in your mind?
Staying focused on one species and not getting sidetracked with something else.

What, or who, inspires you?
I think pictures inspire me most often. Learning or getting past my "next" stumbling block really keeps me goin'. Matus and I seem to manage to talk about carving and paint 3 or 4 times a week either on the phone or emails and that keeps me fired up as well.

Name 5-10 essentials for carving
Reference, a carving "process" and purpose, good tools, and a comfortable carve/paint area and time...a whole bunch of time.