Tuesdays afternoons Bud Coppedge demonstrates his antique style of carving. He has been carving for 40 years and mostly carves duck decoys and shorebirds. Bud carves his pieces the old fashion way, using only hand-held tools like a carving knife, draw knife and spoke shave. He doesn’t enter his work for competition now, but in the 70’s and 80’s Bud entered his work in the Mid-Atlantic Wildfowl Festivals here in Virginia Beach and won ribbons for his unique style of decoys. You can usually find Bud’s work for sale in our Gift Shop and they really sell quickly.

Ann Smith looking over Bud’s work

Wednesday

Carvers must love Wednesday because we have several that get together.

     Ed has been carving since 1981. His main focus is on Santa characters and hunting style decoys, although he has carved many other characters. Ed entered a few carving competitions in Virginia and Pennsylvania and has a few ribbons for his work. He says he is not really interested in competition but enters some shows just to be a part of the show excitement. Ed teaches several carving classes each year (decoys and Santas) in western Virginia and NE North Carolina. The tools he uses are knives, chisels, spoke shave and a band saw to rough out decoys.

Ed with Osprey wing

Detailing Osprey wing

     C. J. enjoys carving ducks, songbirds, and raptors using decorative carving methods. He has been carving about 11 years and got started while working with Ed Morrison, a master carver who taught him the value of having good tools and how to properly maintain them. Later C. J. took carving lessons from two other master carvers and painters, Charlie Seidel and Al Brandtner. C.J. uses power tools like the foredom to quickly remove wood and shape the birds, a micro grinder for detailing and his favorite Butz knife that he has used since he began carving to assist in fine detail work. He says no other knife fits his hand like the Butz. His work can be seen at the Museum or local craft shows.

C.J.	Close up of fish in Osprey’s talons

     Roy has been carving since 2005 and mostly enjoys carving ducks, songbirds and shorebirds. Roy has not entered any of his work in competition but I am sure you will agree that the quality his work is excellent and worthy of entry into competition. Roy has used several tools to carve and presently is learning how to master the spoke shave.

Roy	Roy working on Osprey

Thursday

     Hank Grigolite shares his many carving talents that include antique style decoys, decorative songbirds, shells, caterpillars, peanuts, spoons and flowers. He has been carving since 2001. Hank also carves at First Landing State Park and was commissioned, along with carving friend, Roger Lee to create “Cardinals on Dogwood”. Hank cuts out his blanks with a band saw then uses knives, chisel and motorized tools to add detail to his carvings. Hank’s next endeavor is to learn how to carve with a hatchet in the future.

Hank showing a leaf he carved	Hank with shorebirds and Canvasback decoy
Hanks carved shells	Rose Wells with Hank

Friday

     Gary Holt demonstrates his various carving skills copying scenes of nature with his antique and folk art style. His “Wings Over Tidewater” series includes: wooden decoys, songbirds, shorebirds, carved pins, roosters & flowers carved from twigs and canvas stretched decoys. He has been carving since he was a youngster growing up in the hills of Tennessee. Gary has entered competition locally and near-by North Carolina and his entrees have received ribbons. His favorite tools are his Knotts Island Style Knives and he also uses a Foredom to finish off his pieces.

Gary with carved flower	Gary with decoys
Bill Evans & Jackie Price watching Gary	Gary’s pin carvings

Saturday

     At least once a month, Roger Lee and Gentry Childress come in to demonstrate their carving skills. Roger comes all the way from the Emporia area and carves decorative songbirds, birds of prey (especially owls) and fish. Roger has been carving using the International Wood Carvers Associations rules for competition since 2003. Roger has entered his carvings in competition, won ribbons and has sold his pieces nationwide and overseas. He uses power tools to create detail in his work.

Roger working on an American Kestrel	Roger and his carvings
Roger’s Owl	Roger’s Tern

     Gentry carves mostly waterfowl, but has done some other birds and sea creatures. He started carving on his own in 1990, but really started serious carving in 1997 after taking lessons from Charlie Seidel, and still carves with Charlie. Gentry’s style is antique or "contemporary antiques". Many are in the styles of old masters and some are patterns he makes from other carvers such as Bud Coppedge and Chandler Sawyer while also making a few of his own patterns. He has won ribbons for his carvings at Core Sound, East Carolina, Rappahannock and Ward Museum shows. He uses a bandsaw to cut out the patterns, a knife and rasp to shape the heads, and a hatchet, spokeshave, knife and rasp for the bodies.

Gentry with award winning decoys	Avocet
Contemporary antique shorebirds	Gentry with his carvings

Advanced & Novice Carving Class - Saturday's in Boathouse

     Al Brandtner can occasionally be found in the carving room when the Museum is open on Monday’s and the rest of the time can be found in the boathouse conducting carving classes on Saturday’s. He offers advanced classes along with an occasional novice class. Al began carving in 1987 after taking classes from Harvey Ackiss and mostly carves decorative decoys, decorative slicks, a few songbirds and one life size Red-tailed Hawk. He has entered his decoys in the Mid-Atlantic Wildfowl Festival and the East Carolina Wildlife Arts Festival and has won ribbons for his entrees. He uses mostly power tools, such as a Foredom for heavy wood removal, a high speed micro grinder for detail work, and various burning pens to create his decoys and finishes them using his air brush and paint brushes. Al’s decoys have been displayed in the Museum and also for sale in the gift shop.

Al Brandtner

Wigeon	Red Tail Hawk
Pintail-winter 2011 class project	Al, Jamie, Bob CJ, Roy & Pete Winter 2011 carving class