Brithdate: 6/28/29

Birthplace: Rothsay, MN

Area raised: Most of my life, Minnesota - either near Detroit Lakes, or Blackduck, MN from which I graduated from High School.

I spent part of my youth (during W.W. II) in Seattle, WA. My current residence is Audubon, MN, a farmsite in the country nearby.

I am married, soon 50 years, to Lillian. We have 3 daughters, one of whom carves decoys also. I am a retired clergyman.

I carved my first decoy in 1941 because I was disappointed with a plastic one I had bought, since it had no action. My father suggested I make my own like he did when a young man, so I did. It worked beautifully and I never bought another ever again. This means, except for some suggestions from my dad, I am self-taught

I have never entered my carvings in carving competition, never having attended any shows, but plan to enter one or more this April in the Jensen Promo Decoy Show in Perham April 8*. I have entered two in the county fair and won Reserve Champion and People's Choice awards

I have a continuing one-half hour cable TV program featuring me in my shop going through the process of making a decoy. It is on the "Weekend Workbench" series with Fritz Zirbel. I also teach decoy and fish carving each winter at the local Detroit lakes Community Education Program.

My tools used are 3 gouges, small knives, a one-inch belt sander and the rest by hand. I have an airbrush, but believe it to be faulty since I can't get results., therefore I paint by hand only, using both oils and mostly acrylics

I began carving in earnest when I retired 8 years ago. If the tails are wood, I like to use pine, but if metal, basswood. If I use basswood for a fish carving, I use ash or birch for the fins since it is stronger. Any metal fins are either affixed by lead or double doweled for secure fastening

My Email address is: arlen@arlensvare.com