Artist Statement
Due to my passion for nature and the fact I am an avid lover of animals the subjects I enjoy working with the most are birds, fish, and other animals. I am thrilled to see a subject seemingly come to life through the sculpting/carving of wood. I find birds in flight, tropical fish swimming on a reef, or animals frolicking in the woods provide me with the most inspiration. Ever since I was a child, I have been content to sit for hours and bask in the peace and calm provided by observing the wonders of nature.
I get the most satisfaction from using wood as my medium. I manipulate form, line, color, and texture in order to capture the essence of my subject. It is of the utmost importance to me that the sculpture I create is highly realistic. I believe that my audience is captivated by my attention to detail.
Nature has always been a spiritual part of many people lives, but far too often we take it for granted. I get great enjoyment out of reviving that spark of emotion that my viewer feels when recalling the song bird or rabbit they watched in the garden as a child, the rare find a bird watcher was able to check off the list, or the magic and wonder felt at the first swim through a tropical reef.
I get the most satisfaction from using wood as my medium. I manipulate form, line, color, and texture in order to capture the essence of my subject. It is of the utmost importance to me that the sculpture I create is highly realistic. I believe that my audience is captivated by my attention to detail.
Nature has always been a spiritual part of many people lives, but far too often we take it for granted. I get great enjoyment out of reviving that spark of emotion that my viewer feels when recalling the song bird or rabbit they watched in the garden as a child, the rare find a bird watcher was able to check off the list, or the magic and wonder felt at the first swim through a tropical reef.
Artist Bio
James has been sculpturing wood for 33 years. Needing a hobby while in college and looking to work with his hands, James took up wood carving. His love for wood has brought focus in the area of nature, centering on animals, fish, and birds. However, he also enjoys many other forms of sculpturing such as caricature, relief and human busts. Over the past few years James has branched out into other media such as clay, steel and glass.
James has studied under an Austrian master carver and has traveled to Japan several times to study with Japanese artists as well as numerous American artists. Over the years he has received many awards at national and international competitions including the Ward World Wildfowl Championships, the World Fish Carving Championship, and the International Woodcarvers Congress, as well as, many local and regional shows. In 2019 James won 2nd in world at the World Fish Carving Championship in Springfield Missouri. James is also a much sought-after carving instructor.
James has studied under an Austrian master carver and has traveled to Japan several times to study with Japanese artists as well as numerous American artists. Over the years he has received many awards at national and international competitions including the Ward World Wildfowl Championships, the World Fish Carving Championship, and the International Woodcarvers Congress, as well as, many local and regional shows. In 2019 James won 2nd in world at the World Fish Carving Championship in Springfield Missouri. James is also a much sought-after carving instructor.