Wildlife Wood Carvings...

As a wood carver, I've always been drawn to images of animals in my mind. I've spent many, many hours in the outdoors. Most of the time just watching different animals and birds moving about. In remembering some of the wildlife wood carvings that I've done... one of the first that I did happened to be a little raccoon holding a small (fish). I remember thinking that there was no way that this was going to work. It was the first time I had tried to carve an animal of any type! But it all came together as I stayed with it. There are so many different ways to do wildlife wood carvings. There are really never any mistakes... they are just reasonable changes! I found that the raccoon wood carving turned out to be one of my most enjoyable wood carvings.

 

There are so many variables with wildlife wood carvings. Different stances, looks, and conditions to actually make them in. For example: The red fox wood carving that has that fresh " jumped " pheasant look! Or the bobcat with that " just smelled the rabbit" look! Even the Canada goose with the mid-day " preening" stance! There are different takes through each wildlife wood carver's eyes. How they as an artist, will actually see wildlife! Some artists might see a bobcat with hunting for food or actually being hunted look!

I typically see wildlife with sort of an " undisturbed" or " in nature" look. I think that is when wildlife is at it's best. One of the many advantages of wildlife wood carvings is that it can give some folks a chance to actually see wildlife they've never observed in the wild. There have been lots of common animals that some people have not seen. You tend to think that everyone has observed a skunk before, but this is just not true! A child's response to seeing my wildlife wood carvings is very rewarding. It's as if you've been able to take them on a little journey to the wild! Their eyes light up and sort of give a little excited grin!

We live in the computer-age today. We've got so many advantages to study wildlife up close. Through computer animation and graphics. As a wood carver, I try to learn as much as possible so as to open up my mind and become always diligent in my techniques. I want to give the people a sense of realism but at the same time... allow them to see wildlife the way that I see it.

Each time I start a wildlife wood carving, I try to visualize how the particular animal is feeling, what it is seeing, and where it is! I actually become so absorbed in the carving ... that sometimes I forget that I am human for a moment! I remember the red-fox I carved sometime ago. I was just putting the finishing touches on it, when I decided to take a short break. I stepped out of my wood shop and gazed across the back yard and spotted a red fox sitting there by an old pile of wood!

It was as if the little critter was showing its approval of my project. As soon as it appeared... it was gone into the woods! It's the little insignificant things like this in life that really mean something to me.

My wife and I, constantly, have possums come on to our back porch and eat up scraps and some cat food that the cats leave behind. I make it a ritual of observing their behavior each night! We are given little windows of opportunity to learn things of seemingly unimportance! I try and take full advantage of these windows every chance I get. I have so many ideas running in my mind that there just doesn't seem like there's enough time to carve it all!

 

 

One of the many important factors about my wildlife wood carvings is that I keep in my mind that " you have to carve it like you see it"! I keep in mind, also, to keep my wildlife wood carvings centered around honesty. Let me explain that. Nature has a very forthright and certain honesty in its existence. If I forget the reason that I'm carving, I'll stray from meaning to my work!

In my years of spending time in the outdoors... I generally make my wildlife wood carvings based on some mental recollection, of that specific time and place. I've got one of the greatest opportunities on this earth, in the fact that I get to share my mental photos to the world! What a privilege to be given the chance to do that.

My wood of choice is eastern red cedar. It is easier to control and carve. It is somewhat abrasive and harder to keep my steels sharp... but the results are well worth the hard-ship of sharpening.

Cracking tends to be at a minimum while working with red cedar. Drying time seems to be especially faster with red cedar. And this is a huge plus when you are carving large hunks of wood! MY wildlife wood carvings actually become a part of my little family when I finish them! I find it exciting to see them go out into the rest of the world! It's as if they've been given instructions to be happy in other homes and such, to give beauty and a little happiness to others. I hope you'll enjoy them!

 

 

Wildlife Wood Carvings...