Brad Atchison, Master Wood Sculptor

Brad is a Master Wood Sculptor who has been competing in world-class juried woodcarving shows for several years now. His carvings have consistently won awards over this period. He also is a Carving Judge in juried carving competitions in both Canada and the U.S. As a life-long, passionate Outdoor Recreationalist and Biologist, his carvings are designed to celebrate Nature (e.g., A Spiritual Elder usually oversees the story depicted in his genre of West Coast-style carvings).... This dedicated Facebook Page is to showcase the selection of woodcarvings and custom furniture, representing the four genres of sculptures, he designs and carves: 1. Realistic Mammals of Western Canada, including terrestrial and marine species (including cetaceans...whales, Orcas, seals,etc.). 2. West Coast-Style, using the traditional graphic design elements of Canada's First Nations to "tell stories and celebrate the intricacies of Nature". 3. Paddle Art, including scale models and dioramas of traditional skin-on-frame Inuit kayaks (including hunting tools and Inuk paddlers) as well as half-size paddles. 4. Custom furniture (with West Coast-Style carved insets), carved fireplace mantles, whale ceiling mobiles, sculptured door panels, and other creative inspirations. 5. Sculptured wall/door panels for commercial/institutional lobbies. Typically, I use B.C. wood for my carvings: oak, yellow and red cedar, Douglas fir, and basswood. Each carving is typically distinguished by intricate and fine detail and is mounted either in a diorama or wood base. Acrylic is occasionally used in the setting, or mount, to simulate water or ice. Carvings may either be slightly stained, left natural (with various wood choices accentuating colour differences), or painted (i.e., air brushed, brush dabbing, or sponging)...depending on the subject matter. Each one-of-a-kind carving should be regarded as a piece of fine art and is copyrighted, signed, dated, and numbered. I'm presently carving: - an Umiak (or Aleutian Whaling Canoe) diorama w/ the boat on a komatik, or sled, pulled by a dog team and an Inuk musher/hunter; - a really impactful, unusual West Coast-style Bentwood Box w/ a variety of 3-D creatures on it!; and - another skin-on-frame West Greenland Kayak Model. Commissions are gladly accepted, coupled with realistic budgets.

BALD EAGLE HEAD WALKING/TALKING STICK... On May 3-31, 2019, I instructed a 2-day carving workshop at Lee Valley Tools here in Victoria, B.C. The carving was a Walking Stick with an attached anatomically-accurate, 3-D (or "carving-in-the-round") of a Bald Eagle Head. My demonstration carving for the class also included a mid-shaft metal coupler and a brass tip. The coupler allowed the top piece of the Walking Stick to become a Talking Stick.... The Walking Stick maple shaft had a carved spiral design. Eventually, I will hand-stitch a leather hand grip to the shaft. The yellow cedar Eagle Head was attached to the shaft with a two-piece transition collar.

RELIEF EAGLE HEAD PADDLE... On November 2-4, 2018, I instructed a 2.5-day carving workshop at Lee Valley Tools here in Victoria, B.C. The carving was a half-size, yellow cedar West Coast-style Paddle with a red-cedar T-grip. ... A relief carving of a Bald Eagle Head was carved on a separate rosette of yellow cedar, which was then onset into a recess carved out of one of the paddle blade faces. After the course, I carved a mortise in a red cedar blank and shaped a T-grip, which was installed it on the tenon of my demonstration Paddle.