GREENWING ENTERPRISES

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CATALOG OF SUPPLIES

 

Jim and Patty Sprankle began Greenwing Enterprises in 1982 for the purpose of making available a select number of carving and painting supplies which Jim has found to be exceptionally adaptable to his style of carving and painting wildfowl. Since then Greenwing has provided first class products which enable even the novice wildfowl artist to turn out a more superior carving than if he/she were to use lesser quality materials. Click on each underlined catagory listed below to see a list of items available:

SPRANKLE STUDY BIRDS

The foundation of Greenwing Enterprises is the SPRANKLE STUDY BIRD. Made of pine sawdust, resin and glass beads, each cast study bird was molded from an original carving of Jim's. Each cast weighs approximately the same as the original carving, and carefully replicates each feather and texturing pattern as well as incorporates an attitude typical of the subject bird. The study birds can be painted and regessoed, three to five times and still remain an accurate permanent reference base for carving.

To date Jim features the following birds in his collection:

In Summer 1997 these following study casts will begin his new collection of Shore and Wading Birds:

Common Loon (half-sized - 14") .... ...............Hooded Merganser - .......................................................................Courtship

Redhead Drake Sleeper

Ringneck Drake

VIDEOTAPES

With his study birds as a handy reference, Jim was then able to produce carving and painting videotapes which have been especially popular with those carvers who are not readily accessible to those places where Jim holds his seminars.

Tape I - Jim Sprankle Carves a Greenwing Teal Drake

Jim explores the use of reference material, laying out patterns and roughing out the bird. He covers texturing, use of the Foredom tool, NSK grinder, setting the eyes and final preparation for painting. (2 Hours)

Tape II - Jim Sprankle Paints a Greenwing Teal Drake

Jim takes the painter from sealing of wood to the final brushstroke. He carefully shows how to blend color to water, how to flick feather edges and how to vermiculate. His painting sequence is such that anyone can easily follow his technique and understand how to paint the bird. (2 Hours)

Tape III - Jim Sprankle Paints a Shoveler Drake

Jim Sprankle paints a Shoveler Drake; wood sealing to final feather stroke. Air brush demonstrations. (2 Hours)

Tape IV - Aviary Reference

Jim Sprankle narrates a reference tape covering 18 species of waterfowl in his own aviary located on the shores of the Chesapeake in Maryland. Freeze-frame video shots are interspersed when a duck strikes a pose which is a particular characteristic of the specie. (1 Hour)

Tape V - Jim Sprankle Paints a Wood Duck Drake

Jim covers each intricate step of this glorious, colorful painting challenge with a strong emphasis on iridescence and an in-depth study of air brush art.

Tape VI - Jim Sprankle Paints a Blue-winged/Cinnamon Teal Hen

Jim prepares the hen for painting and provides close-up freeze-frame shots of his mixing subtle values of the brown shading common to hens. He explains the soft, delicate feather edging unique to hens, and his techniques is applicable to the Mallard, Greenwing Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and Pintail Hens. He also covers air-brush use, blending color to water and feather flicking.

PRIVATE LABEL BRUSHES

In 1992 Jim was so frustrated by the absence of readily available fine quality paint brushes that he went to Nuremberg, Germany, to work with an old established company which has manufactured fine brushes as branch of the fur coat trade. While his brushes cost more than those sold by his competitors, the quality provides a great value when compared to a similarly priced brush.

Some of his finest private label brushes are hand-made from the selection of the actual sable hairs to the crimping of the ferrule, and these brushes last a lifetime if properly cared for. Here are the brushes which Jim offers for sale:

 USE DESCRIPTION NUMBER TYPE
GESSO J. D. SPRANKLE No. 116, Size 20 Bristle
WASH  J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1875, No. 20 Synthetic
   J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1875, No. 16 Synthetic
LINING J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1200, Size 1 Sable
   J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1270, Size 2 Synthetic
BLENDING  J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1815, Size 2 Sable
   J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1815, Size 4  Sable
   J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1815, Size 6  Sable
   J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1875, Size 2 Synthetic
   J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1875, Size 4  Synthetic
   J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1875, Size 6  Synthetic
VERMICULATION  J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1510V, Size 3  Sable
   J. D. SPRANKLE No. 10V, Size 3 Sable 
FEATHER FLICKING  J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1520, Size 3  Sable
   J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1520, Size 8  Sable
   J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1526, Size 3  Sable
   J. D. SPRANKLE No. 1524, Size 8  Sable

Jim is available to answer questions you may have about which brush is the best for your own personal use and can also help you "train" your brush and care for it.

PAINTS AND POWDERS

We carry the following JO SONJA acrylic paint colors:

We also carry these Grumbacher acrylic paints:

 

Jim prefers using Pearlescent Powders for his iridescent effects. The waterfowl artist can visually watch the intensity built up in washes, making this the safest method of creating the necessary subtle iridescent effects.

Our own Pearlescent Powders Kits offer the following tints:

EDUCATIONAL BOOKS

In the Fall of 1984, Jim was featured, along with eight other carvers, in the hugely successful book, How to Carve Waterfowl. The response to his particular style and knowledge was so overwhelming that in 1985 the same publishing company brought out:

Waterfowl Carving with J. D. Sprankle, a 256-page book exclusively about Jim, his techniques and philosophies. This is a fully illustrated reference to carving and painting 25 decorative duck carvings. There are 440 photographs, of which over 250 are devoted exclusively to the Gadwall Drake. Also included are 25 patterns, as well as painting notes for every Sprankle carving which had been carved to date. Written by Roger Schroeder. Published in soft cover by Stackpole. Autographed by Jim.

Yet another joint project between Jim and Stackpole Publishing in 1987 was: Painting Waterfowl with J. D. Sprankle, a 240-page book with over 500 spec-tacular photographs, accompanied by clear, instructive captions. Blending color to water, building up washes, painting white on white, feather flicking, and other techniques are demonstrated right on the carving. From the first wash to the final feather detail, the colors of each duck build dramatically before you. Special color charts illustrate the exact paint mixes Sprankle uses. Written by Curtis Badger. Published in hard cover by Stackpole. Autographed byJim.

Next year, another joint project with Jim, Curtis Badger, and Stackpole will be a complete Greenwing Teal carving and painting project with close to 400 photographs. You will see how in Sprankle's skilled hands a block of basswood becomes an extraordinary life-like Greenwing Teal. With tight shots, some only an inch from the project, you will see every significant cut, burnline and brush stroke throughout the process. We will be announcing a special, presale price when we find out the exact publication date.

We also sell DECOYS - A CELEBRATION OF CONTEMPORARY WILDFOWL CARVING and Wildfowl Art - Carvings from the Ward World Championships.

 

Other J. D. Sprankle - Greenwing Enterprises Carving Aids Include: Matte, Medium & Varnish, Flow Medium, Gesso, Burrs and Cutters, Sanding Mandrels, Sandpaper, and Plumbers Seal.

Full Product Description and Prices Available Upon Request

Please write us or email us at the following:

1147 Golden Olive Court,
Sanibel Island, FL 33957-3801.
Telephone: 941-472-8666.
Fax: 941-472-8445.
e-mail sprankle@Cyberstreet.com