" I have no idea what compels an individual to participate in a solitary environment hour after hour, carving many single feathers or burning line after line to create feather realism. There are those who would say it is craziness, I just call it therapeutic."
Recently while at a woodcarving show, someone asked me, "What are you trying to prove?" I replied, "Nothing, absolutely nothing, except maybe the opportunity to exchange a smile or kind word with someone looking at my work."
Recently while at a woodcarving show, someone asked me, "What are you trying to prove?" I replied, "Nothing, absolutely nothing, except maybe the opportunity to exchange a smile or kind word with someone looking at my work."
I began carving in 1977, while living in Edmonds, WA. I carved primarily eagles, eagle busts, and any Native American type carving. In 1980 I won Best of Show in the Professional Artists of the Central Washington State Fair. After carving everything and specializing in nothing for a number of years, I carved my first realistic bird in 1992. Since then I have studied with a couple of master carvers and learned the fundamentals of bird carving. I have spent a great deal of time researching anatomy, habitat and realism. Today I carve primarily songbirds and game birds. In the future I will expand my carving levels to include other forms of wildlife, as well as carving on commissions to meet the needs of a growing clientele. In one sentence, I am an artist who creates life-like, life-size wildlife in wood that I market in the Pacific Northwest. Although I have never attended art school, I have spent considerable time in learning from master carvers in the Pacific Northwest. I have taught woodcarving at community school adult programs in Washington, California, and Idaho. Because environmental issues concern us all, I attempt to portray life-like, life-size wildlife primarily songbirds, game birds, and raptors in their natural setting. The exciting part of what I do is that I can follow any path that I choose to explore.
Honors and Recognitions:
· Quail Unlimited National Foundation- California Quail bust for inclusion into their art catalog.
· Pheasant Forever Foundation- Ring Neck Pheasant bust for inclusion in the Wild fowl Art catalog.
· Placed 3rd in the world, Songbird class, Pacific Flyway Association, Sacramento.
· Attained expert class status, Pacific Northwest Carver's Association in 1997.
I attend many shows and competitions throughout the Pacific Northwest. I am a member of Bird Carver's On-Line, The Decoy Carvers Forum, and The National Woodcarver's Association.
Honors and Recognitions:
· Quail Unlimited National Foundation- California Quail bust for inclusion into their art catalog.
· Pheasant Forever Foundation- Ring Neck Pheasant bust for inclusion in the Wild fowl Art catalog.
· Placed 3rd in the world, Songbird class, Pacific Flyway Association, Sacramento.
· Attained expert class status, Pacific Northwest Carver's Association in 1997.
I attend many shows and competitions throughout the Pacific Northwest. I am a member of Bird Carver's On-Line, The Decoy Carvers Forum, and The National Woodcarver's Association.
