I could have sworn I saw that duck move.

When I first saw his work, I gasped. The kids say “awesome” a lot nowadays, but, friends, we have a true master in our midst on the northshore, and this artist-sculptor’s works are truly awesome.

The realism of John Scallan’s creations was like nothing I’d ever seen. His living room is adorned with magnificent sculpted ducks, dogs and fish, and even intricately carved outdoor scenes done in relief. He introduced me to a whole new world of sculptured detail that incredibly reproduces some of God’s most beautiful creatures—the feathers really look like what the Creator actually created!

Scallan carved as we talked in his humble studio in a tiny corner of his garage.

As of this year, he is officially a world champion duck carver. His rise to fame from a humble whittler in Covington to the best there is took some time, however.

It all started in the early ’80s with a dare from one of his best friends, educator Bill Ferrer. “We had been fishing at his camp on Bayou Lacombe and he took me next door to show me his neighbor’s wood carving of a bass—really nice—but the fish did not have scales. I told Bill that if I could do that quality of work, I would have carved scales on the fish.” Scallan had always enjoyed whittling and rough carvings, but nothing serious.

“Bill said, ‘You can do that!’ He was so insistent that, after a month, I finally gave in and asked him if I carved him a bass would he put it in his living room. He agreed, so I gave it a try.”

Encouragement also came from Scallan’s friend, sign painter and carver Gene Culbertson, whom he met at a duck calling competition. When Scallan won first place, he was awarded the grand prize—a bust of a mallard duck carved by Gene. “‘It was really nice work,’ I said to Gene, but if I had known what the prize was I probably would have been too nervous to get a sound out of my duck call!”

He told Gene that he carved fish. Gene saw Scallan’s early fish carvings and critiqued his work. They talked for hours, sharing carving stories on how they both got started. Their great friendship became the common inspiration for both champions.

“Gene asked why I only carved fish and not warm-blooded creatures like ducks, dogs and birds. I told him that I planned to carve other things when I felt that I had mastered the fish. He didn’t accept my response, and he proceeded to cut out a duck on his band saw right then and there. He told me to carve the duck, and if I ran into trouble, to give him a call.

“Again, I couldn’t say no, and from then on a new world opened up to me.” Scallan continued to carve fish, but ducks, dogs and birds were much more challenging. “I could not believe my eyes after carving them,” he said. “I surprised myself with this ability I never knew I possessed.”

Scallan was asked to represent West St. Tammany Parish with his carved ducks at the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans. “What an experience that was!” he relates with a grin. “I carved for about eight or nine hours, and met so many people! I rarely stopped carving when people would stop and talk or ask questions.”

He did stop, however, when one lady talked to him. She politely said, “Mister, World War III could be going on and you would not even know it!”

Scallan says he looked up, smiled and said, “I never thought of it before, but you’re absolutely correct.” He says that when he carves he becomes so relaxed and intent on what he’s doing it’s like he’s in a third dimension or another world.

Scallan has entered and won scores of competitions in Louisiana, and now shares his gift with others. “I co-host a carving club with John Blanchard in Abita Springs twice a month. Our members enjoy carving fish, ducks, animals, people, relief carving, and even fishing lures. We have several members who came to our meeting to learn to carve and are now enjoying the adventure into a new world of dreams and relaxation.”

He had always wanted to enter his work in the World Competition. This past April, with wife Elaine’s encouragement, he finally decided to drive to Ocean City, Maryland and enter some of his ducks in the World Class Championship of Wood Carving. “Honestly, I didn’t think that I would win a ribbon, but I wanted to go to meet World Class Champions from around the globe, share ideas, and say that I had at least entered with the ‘big boys.’”

Scallan won first place in species category in his entry class with his Pintail drake and a second place in the species category with his Pintail hen. “It took me until four days after the judging to finally realize I was actually a World Class Champion! I met a lot of wonderful and talented people at the show, and it’s still hard for me to believe that I won. It was such an exciting event, with so many ducks, birds and fish. Really inspiring.”

He’s already started on his entry for the 2004 competition.

“I have always felt that my carving skill is a gift from God,” he quietly said, as his carving knife went about its business of revealing another magnificent creation from a block of Tupelo gumwood.
Before I left, I glanced back quickly over my shoulder, trying to catch that duck moving again.

Copyright 2003, M&L Publishing, all rights reserved.