Wildfowl Art

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

The work of 17 world champions—five of them Canadians—is showcased
in this spectacular gallery of wildfowl sculpture.

One thousand of the best carvers in the world compete in the Ward World
Championship of Wildfowl Carving held in Ocean City, Maryland. Awards go
as high as $20,000. The winners transcend carving as craft and enter the
world of art, each entry at this level being a sculpture of the highest
artistic merit.

Michael Arthurs, Patrick Godin, Gordon Hare, Glen Ladenberger, and
Jeffery Whiting are the Canadian artists included in the winners’ list
and honored in this beautiful coffee-table book.

With carving at this level of accomplishment, the text explains, it is
assumed that each work will be technically accurate. To gain the winning
edge, the artists move beyond realism. Excellence in design and
composition move the work from craft to sculpture, but it is complete
familiarity with the bird’s anatomy, behavior, movement, stance,
attitude, and habitat—the essence of the species—that identifies a
top entry.

The book is edited and produced to a similar high standard, with
excellent photography and a presentation suggesting a fine-art exhibit.

Wildfowl Art is a pleasure to peruse. While admiration for the skill of
the sculptor dominates, a secondary response is to the variety of birds
depicted with personality and clarity. The book will appeal to artists,
woodcarvers, birders, and those who love quality books.