Rich Smoker, duck carver extraordinaire, teaches duck carving at the Tawes Museum in Crisfield
For most of his life Rich Smoker has been pressing tools to wood, creating realistic wildlife carvings that have earned him over 500 ribbons and the title to "Best in Show" at 70 wildlife competitions. Smoker also placed third in the 2001 Ward World Championship Competition, was inducted into the Waterfowl Festival Hall of Fame in Easton, Maryland, serving as the Masterpiece Artist for the festival. In 2008, Smoker was the World Champion at the Ward World Championship. Smoker, who lives in Marion, a few minutes drive from Crisfield, gives carving classes twice a year at the Tawes Museum in Crisfield. Many of his students return like migrating birds to study with the master whose wildlife themes are varied, allowing people to build up their own cornucopia wildlife collection. I recently caught up with Smoker at the museum.
I hope you enjoy the slide-show from his most recent class. FYI: If you are interested in Smoker's 2011 December class call the museum at 410.968.2501. Some seats are already filled and the class is limited to around 20 students. Like wildlife carvings but know nothing about the trade? Never fear. Master Smoker will make you proud of your creation.
The Tawes Museum has many programs available for members of Road Scholar. Give them a call for upcoming events including the popular Best of the Chesapeake Bay.When in the area, stop in and visit with Curator Tim Howard and get a history lesson of life on the bay.
Read full coverage in the March 2 edition of the Crisfield-Somerset County Times.
~ ~ ~
The class poses with their completed puffins.
Special guests from the Ward Museum in Salisbury stopped in for a tour of the museum and the original Ward brother's workshop, located in Crisfield.
No comments:
Post a Comment