Former Willows man carves out artistic niche

It’s a long way to Ocean City, Md., the eastern terminus of U.S. Highway 50. For former Willows resident Brock Hinton, that coastal city harbored a chance to be the best in the world at something he is passionate about – carving wooden duck decoys.

Hinton, a 45-year-old dentist with a practice in Fair Oaks, and offices in Sacramento and Yuba City, won first place in “Advanced Decorative Life-size Waterfowl – Wood Duck” in the Ward World Championships of Decorative Decoy Carving, an event held every April in Ocean City.

Originally from rural Willows, son of Joe and LaVonne Hinton, Hinton grew up around duck hunting and rice farming and indulged his artistic urges in wildlife photography and painting.

He discovered decoy carving after watching a whittler at the Glenn County Fair and began an apprenticeship under local carver Glenn McCune when he was 17. It took him a year to complete his first decoy, a mallard drake.

Though he has been at it ever since, he has carved only 15 birds because it takes 250 to 300 hours to finish one piece. Unlike many carvers, Hinton pursues his craft only in his spare time, competing in the “decorative” category, which is the most difficult because each feather must be burned and painted separately.

Though he has had offers from collectors, Hinton cannot bear to part with his creations. However, he has begun working with a foundry to create custom-made bronzes that he does sell. They may be viewed at www.bhintonbronzes.com.