Bill has always had an interest in both artistic creation and nature.  He still lives on the farm in Greenwood, MO where he grew up.  Bill and his wife, Donna, love to kayak, bike and hike with their six grandchildren.

As a child, he began to develop his God given talents by taking art lessons from a neighbor and obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Art from Eastern Michigan University.  While raising his family, he used his artistic talents mostly as a hobby.

In 2005, he was exposed to "gourd art."  Bill bought his first dried gourd and wood burned a design; he was hooked!  Later he discovered that the possibilities for being creative are limitless.  His draws his designs free hand on the gourds and especially enjoys wood burning.  He also uses dyes, acrylics, pen and ink to obtain the look he wants for the finished product.

Decker entered his first competition with three gourds in the Missouri Gourd Show in 2006 followed by several honors in Georgia, Indiana and Texas.

He has had much success with his fine art gourds.  He has sold gourds at Peter Engler Designs in Branson, MO.  His award winning work can be seen in "The Gourd Magazine," an official publication of the American Gourd Society - americangourdsociety.org.  Some of the 2007 awards Bill has won include the Chairman's Award for the Missouri Gourd Show, the Best of Show Award at the Georgia Gourd Show and top honor in the Ohio Gourd Show with The Stevens Family Award.  At the Texas Gourd Society Festival in 2007, he was awarded Best of Show, People's Choice and Artist of the Year for 2008 for his sculpture "Rapture with Snake."

Bill is currently on the Board of Directors for the Show-Me Gourd Society in the state of Missouri which sponsors many local and national artists at the Missouri Gourd Show annually in April (Sedonia, MO - showmegourdsociety.com).

He can be reached at: bwilliamdonna@aol.com

Bill Decker
Greenwood, MO