Born and raised on the salt marshes of Chincoteague Island, Virginia, Capt. Art Leonard grew up with nature quite literally at his back door. His mother would point out the ducks in the creek behind their home each day, so it came as no surprise when his first word was “duck.” It’s been downhill ever since.
From that early age, his father fostered his fascination with waterfowl, especially their plumages, habits, and migrations, by bringing home birds from the marsh so Art could study every feather and marking firsthand. That interest naturally led him to a life on the water as a waterman and licensed boat captain. In the summer, he guided tour groups to see birds, dolphins, and of course the world-famous Chincoteague Ponies. But in winter, it was all about the ducks. Flying ducks, sitting ducks, sea ducks, dabblers and divers — but most of all, duck decoys. He still remembers attending his first Ward show– he wasn’t even old enough to drive and had to ask his mom for a ride. It was the Mid-Atlantic Waterfowl Show, sponsored by the Ward Foundation at the Salisbury Civic Center, and the sense of awe he felt standing among the extraordinary craftsmanship and artistry on display was a moment that helped shape his own path in wildfowl art.
His carving style was influenced by time spent hatchet in hand with legendary carvers like Cigar Daisey, Reggie Birch, Rich Smoker, Roe Terry, and others too numerous to mention, and honed by innumerable hours with hand tools and a paintbrush. His decoys have often been described as “Bayman style” — rugged, honest, and unpretentious — shaped primarily with a hatchet, refined with a spoke shave, and finished with knives with minimal ornamentation. Above all, they are built to work. After 45 years of carving, he still takes the greatest satisfaction in watching live birds respond to his handmade hunting stools.
When he is not carving, hunting, or captaining tours, Art works at his family business, the Refuge Inn. He has long been devoted to giving back, volunteering with Ducks Unlimited, the Barrier Island Center, and the Ward Foundation, where he has served as Board Chairman for the past six years.
Art hopes his lifelong passion for waterfowl, carving, and conservation will continue to inspire future generations to value tradition, craftsmanship, and the enduring connection between art and the natural world.