Come back often, I have many additions in mind!
Bird Carver and Instructor
Charles B. Wolfe
Springdale Arkansas, USA While growing up on a farm in southwestern Oklahoma , Charles developed a special interest in birds and nature. He was born on a small farm one mile from the Red River; at 16 his family moved to Southern California. While in the San Diego area he worked in a cabinet shop, developing an admiration of woods; the luster and beauty of their grain patterns. Charles had always had in his mind a place of quieter, simpler times; a land of natural beauty and seasonal changes. In 1975 he moved to Fayetteville Arkansas in the Ozarks, fulfilling that dream. After reading an article about Gilbert Maggioni and Granger McKoy’s carvings of delicate "wooden birds that fly” Charles purchased Bruce Burk’s "Game Bird Carving” book to try and learn on his own. He did not begin serious carving until 1998 after taking several general carving classes. Charles enjoys all types of carving. You will find natural finished woods incorporated into his pieces. His works include stylized birds and animals, as well as deep relief , delicate detailed pieces. However he has a special passion for detailed songbirds and birds of prey. Fine feather detailing with very fine feather lines, "wooden birds that fly”. These birds are carved from Basswood or Tupelo, woods that are light and hold detail well. Much of the detail is accomplished with a fine blade wood burning pen. Hours are spent on each bird to give the real look and feel of feathers. Many of the bases are from walnut, cherry, butternut, and other exotic woods. Some of the favorites of his carvings are chickadees, one especially is one of a chickadee looking over the top of a sketch book. A special favorite of Charles’s is one of dolphins he carved from parota wood from South Africa. However his overall favorites are the very fine detailed birds, birds with feathers that look and feel real. Wooden birds that fly! |
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Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
~Scott Adams
