A 5-time “Best in World” Champion” Jeff Krete has been creating carved wildfowl sculpture for the past 41 years. In the early 1980’s Jeff mentored under fellow wood carver George “Arn Pletzer, St. George, Ontario to begin a life journey into the world of carved wildfowl art. By this time Jeff had already developed fine art skills in detailed modelling, painting and hand-built dioramas. “Creating art with birds as the primary subject matter has been a painstaking and fascinating journey for me” says Jeff.
Jeff’s Best in World wins include:
2016 – Miniature Wildfowl Sculpture Bering North – Sea Ducks
2014 – Interpretive Wildfowl Sculpture Anatomy of Flight (frigate bird/aircraft sculpture)
2010 – Miniature Wildfowl Sculpture Argus Pheasant
2007 – Miniature Wildfowl Sculpture Pintail Courtship
2006 – Floating Waterfowl Pairs Barrows Goldeneye
(Jeff has also placed in World Level competition several times.)
Jeff has garnered multiple Master’s level wins at the Ward World Championships and 6 Best in Show titles at the Canadian National Wildfowl Carving Championships along with hundreds of other awards at wildfowl carving competitions across North America. Work by Jeff has been exhibited at the New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT, USA and the Burdette Wildlife Art Gallery, Orton, On, Canada. Jeff enjoys sharing his success and knowledge in the creation of wildfowl art by participating in and hosting instructional courses across Canada, demonstrations and presentations, promotion of carved wildlfowl art in alternative venues, judging of wildfowl competitions and in published articles. Jeff has also forayed into other forms of art including mammal sculpture, bronze and wood aviation art sculptures and the creation of original designs for US-based decoy manufacturers.
Jeff is a long-time member and contributor of the Ward Foundation, Ducks Unlimited Canada and other conservation organizations. Jeff has retired from Ducks Unlimited Canada as a wetland restoration professional and waterfowl biologist with Ducks Unlimited Canada.