Archive
August 14, 2024
In
Steve Burelison
I sculpt in an interpretive style, giving the viewer the opportunity to step into and and complete the sculpture in their own mind, relating to factors in their own lives.
I work primarily with found wood that I pick from the woods and river on my property in southwest Ohio, but I am always looking for interesting pieces wherever I’m at. With each piece I try to create motion and emotion. I feel strongly that one can see and feel humanity even in an inanimate object such as a jug or a pot. I get a feeling of satisfaction, worth almost, from taking an object that was once living and growing but has died or been killed and is simply lying on the forest floor, turning to dust. Picking the piece up and giving it a new forever life for people to enjoy both physically and mentally, in whatever shape or form it tells me it wants to be, is so rewarding.
One of my hopes and goals is to move people with my sculptures, so how a piece touches you can be both physical and emotional. There is no better feeling for me than to have someone see my pieces for the first time and put their hand over their mouth in awe. Not because of the beauty of my work, but because it moves them in some way. To me this shows me they are seeing into the piece and not just looking at it. Sometimes they ask, “Can we touch it?” Of course my reply is always “By all means, please do.” Some may purchase the piece to take home and enjoy every day, some simply enjoy the moment. Both choices carry the same significance to me. I feel I have moved someone, maybe made a difference or lifted them up in some way. That’s what it’s all about for me.
August 14, 2024
In
Tom Ahern
Carver | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Tom Ahern has been carving for over a half century and has been a full time professional bird carver since 1982, after leaving his job at Bethlehem Steel.
Tom’s mission is to make it possible to bring the feel of the outdoors into the home or office.
He uses hand tools to achieve shape and sharp feather definition.
He is known for the diversified presentation of his work, using interesting and unusual weathered natural woods for his bases, along with figured hardwoods matched to the colors and textures of his finished carvings.
Tom is self taught and has used the experience of conquering challenges to perfect his understanding of the dynamics of specific behavior, so that he can bring a lifelike quality to his work.
July 26, 2023
In
Rich Metzger
As someone with a love of nature and fishing in particular, Rich began waterfowl sculpting in 1985, often focusing on nature and the beauty that he saw while pursuing some of his favorite pastimes.
Residing in Bedminster, Pa gives him abundant oportunities to eplore all that the natural environment provides.
Fishing has always been a significant part of Rich’s life and continues to be to this day. His latest works center on recreating the beauty that Rich sees in the fish and of the days remembered pursuing them.
From concept and design to carving and coloring each piece is a labor of love.
Starting with an airbrushed base layer followed by pastels, metal powders and pigments, he creates an accurate and long lasting piece of art.
September 8, 2022
In
Jack Cox
Hometown: Elizabeth City, NC
With a full-time electric motor business, Cox had started carving as a hobby in the late 1970s after attending his first decoy show in Virginia Beach, about an hour north of where he lives along the North Carolina coast.
Cox has won numerous Best of Show awards for his work, at events from New York to Charleston, South Carolina. and was the Master Carver in 2011. He is a five-time North Carolina state champion and won Best of Show at the Ward Foundation World Championship in 2006.
August 30, 2022
In
Richard Snyder
Richard (Dick) Snyder graduated from Eastern University in 1974 with a BA in History and Political Science. His love of hunting ducks and geese led to his desire to start carving decoys. At that time there were no carving instructors in his area, so he learned by reading books and watching videos and just carving. Although he started carving decoys, he now prefers to carve songbirds and raptors.
Dick currently belongs to the Lancaster County Woodcarvers, William Rush Woodcarvers and Delaware Valley Woodcarvers. He competes at these shows and has won several Best of Show ribbons and scores of blue ribbons. He also competes at the Ward World Carving Championship Show. In 2013 he won Third Best of Show in the Intermediate Class. He moved to the advanced class and continues to win ribbons. Dick is a respected judge at local woodcarving shows as well as at the Ward World Carving Championship Show.
He has been teaching private classes for several years and has been asked numerous times by clubs and organizations to demonstrate carving techniques, habitat making and airbrushing. He also teaches weekly lessons to a recently organized carving club at Shannondell Retirement Village. He enjoys sharing his love of carving and is very proud when he sees the smiles on the faces of his students as they learn to carve.
August 23, 2022
In
Herb Watson
Hometown: Pocomoke City, MD
2022 WFF Masterpiece Carver
with twin brother Rick Watson, in memoriam
I am a native of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, but now live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in Pocomoke City with my wife Susan.It has been an honor to exhibit my carvings at the Waterfowl Festival since 1983. Although carving has been a part time endeavor during my working career and since I am now retired, I am looking forward to spending more time in my shop!
May 24, 2022
In
Bennett Scott
Carver | Berlin, Maryland
Bennett Scott is an Eastern Shore of Maryland native, where the outdoors, birds and art are themes that have dominated his life. Spending time in the marshes of Worcester County gained him tremendous knowledge of waterfowl and their habits. He has been carving professionally since 1970 and in each of his wood sculptures, he strives to capture the essence of his subject. His carvings have won numerous awards and recognition. He is a member of the Easton Waterfowl Festival’s Hall of Fame, served on the Ward Foundation Board of Trustees and has held various committee chairmanships of the Ward World Championship Competition.
Bennett received the Ward Foundation “Living Legend” Award in 2017 honoring his impact on the field of wildfowl art and the Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition.
Bennett is generous in spirit and commitment to teaching others and passing on his knowledge, skills and talent. He was an instructor` in the National Endowment for the Arts “Carving Out Future Decoy Makers” program. Bennett resides in Berlin, Maryland.
May 24, 2022
In
Richard Smoker
Hometown: Marion, MD
I enjoy creating things with my hands and mind! I have been carving and painting my creations since the late 1960’s.
I love carving and painting, it’s my life!, But I do get bored doing the same thing in repletion, so I change styles and ideas very often with my work. That said, I enjoy with equal enthusiasm doing a decorative bird with its nuances of carved and burned feathers, minute painted details. I also totally enjoy creating a hunting style decoy, with its simplistic approach to feather details. The replication of by gone era decoys used by our fore fathers also excites me and makes the ideas flow, and wood chips hit the shop floor.
I serve the Waterfowl Festival as secretary on the Carvers Committee, have been inducted to the WFF’s Hall of Fame, been the Masterpiece Carver(2001) and Best of the Decade(2010). I am on the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art’s, Board of Directors, serving as Vice Chairman of the Board. 2016 I was awarded The Ward’s Living Legend award. I have won a Best in World (shootin’ stool,2008) and 3rd in World (decorative miniature,2001) and many ribbons and Best of Shows.
May 20, 2022
In
William Belote
Hometown: Lewes, DE
William was born on Virginia’s Eastern shore and moved to Delaware when he was a couple of months old. He started carving when he was ten, to be like his father, and has continued to practice the art. His accomplishments include numerous Best in Show awards including three Best in Division awards at the Ward World Championships two in the Champagne Division and one in the Contemporary Antique Division. William has also had the honor of winning the Ward Museum’s Chesapeake Challenge three times and Best of Shows at Tom’s River, NJ., Rappohanock, Va.,Havre de Grace, Md. and others.
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