Jerry Simchuk Art Studio


	ARTIST BIO Jerry grew up in the Northwest where he began to develop his keen eye for wildlife and love of nature. Days spent fishing, hunting, hiking, and caring for a variety of animals on his family's farm filled his days, while his nights were spent painting and exploring his growing affinity for art. The knowledge and sensitivity gained during this time would become the hallmarks of his realistic, highly detailed Fine Art Bird Sculptures. In 1993, Jerry found woodcarving to be the perfect medium to express his artistic talents. He was drawn toward bird and fish sculptures, and deep down he knew this medium would be most rewarding, allowing him the ability to turn his love of wildlife into an art form. Soon after finishing his first carved bird, Jerry entered his work in the Boise Woodcarvers Show in 1994 where he took top honors in his division. Since his first competition in 1994, Jerry Simchuk has competed regularly at top-level bird carving shows around the country, including the Ward World Championships. He has received numerous high level awards for his wildfowl and fish carvings, and his work has been selected to appear on the cover of Wildfowl Carving Magazine in both 2007 and 2008. As one of this nation's most respected and premier wildlife artists, Jerry Simchuk has been invited to judge many prestigious shows, including the 2004, 2005, and 2009 Ward World Championships. With his passion for creating realistic bird sculptures in both wood and bronze, Jerry continues to share his knowledge and skill with others, offering seminars, classes and writing articles. Jerry finds it very rewarding to know he is helping others grow in there passion for this art form. Jerry currently resides in Kalispell Montana on a small farm with his wife Kate where he continues to build his reputation as a full time wildlife artist, sculptor, judge, and instructor. ARTIST STATEMENT Specializing in realistic bird sculptures, Jerry Simchuk conveys a strong sense of composition and life. I choose to work in wood because it's a medium that allows me to work with my hands through the sculpting, but also a fine medium to bring a piece to life with paint. My original wood sculptures are created using Tupelo Wood (grown in the southern swamps) as the medium for the birds and fish. Power tools are used to form and shape the fine detail that can be found in these sculptures. The habitat is created using wood or welded brazing rod, brass rod and brass foil depending on strength and support needs. Acrylic paint is used to create the sculptures final realistic effect in color. On a limited basis resin castings are also available which where created from some of these original wood sculptures. Bronze sculptures are created primarily from clay while some special original wood sculptures are transformed into bronze. The bronze is then given a colorful patina finish or a traditional bronze finish. I find this process exciting as it allows me to work in an additive process which is opposite from wood carving. In some ways it feels like a vacation when working in clay to bring a bronze piece to life. EXHIBITS 2010 29th Annual Western Heritage Art Show - Great Falls, MT 2009 Audubon Society of Portland Wild Arts Festival - Portland, OR Featured Artist - Columbia Flyway Wildfowl Show- Vancouver, WA 18th Annual Loveland Sculpture Invitational - Loveland, CO 16th Annual Reflection of Nature Art Show - Fallbrook, CA 28th Annual Western Heritage Art Show - Great Falls, MT Montana Taxidermist Wildlife & Art Show - Missoula, MT Love Stories Exhibit - Kalispell Regional Medical Center - Kalispell, MT 2008 Audubon Society of Portland Wild Arts Festival - Portland, OR Featured Artist - Indigo Gallery One Month Private Showing - Missoula, MT Birds & Art Exhibition - Monte Dolack Gallery - Missoula, MT 17th Annual Loveland Sculpture Invitational - Loveland, CO Glacier Park Exhibit - Kalispell Regional Medical Center - Kalispell, MT 15th Annual Reflections of Nature Art Show - Fallbrook, CA 27th Annual Western Heritage Art Show - Great Falls, MT Montana Taxidermist Wildlife & Art Show - Missoula, MT Land Escapes Exhibit - Kalispell Regional Medical Center - Kalispell, MT 2007 Small Jewels Exhibit - Kalispell Regional Medical Center - Kalispell, MT Audubon Society of Portland Wild Arts Festival - Portland, OR Featured Artist - Spokane Artistry in Wood Show & Sale - Spokane, WA 16th Annual Loveland Sculpture Invitational - Loveland, CO 61st Annual Bellevue Arts Museum ArtsFair - Bellevue, WA Living with the Animals Exhibit - Kalispell Regional Medical Center- Kalispell, MT Reflections of Nature 14th Annual National Invitational - Fallbrook, CA Montana Taxidermist Wildlife & Art Show - Missoula, MT 26th Annual Western Heritage Art Show - Great Falls, MT 37th Annual Spokane Western & Wildlife Art Show - Spokane, WA 15th Annual Coastal Carvers "Artistry in Wood" Show - Lincoln City, OR 2006 Featured Artist - 19th Annual Columbia Flyway Wildfowl Show- Vancouver, WA 15th Annual Loveland Sculpture Invitational - Loveland, CO Missoula Woodcarvers Show - Missoula, MT 25th Annual Western Heritage Art Show - Great Falls, MT 36th Annual Spokane Western & Wildlife Art Show - Spokane, WA Featured Artist - Boys & Girls Club Auction & Dinner Event - Kalispell, MT 14th Annual Coastal Carvers "Artistry in Wood" Show - Lincoln City, OR 2005 59th Annual Bellevue Arts & Crafts Fair - Bellevue, WA Tri-Cities Woodcarving Show - Kennewick, WA Missoula Woodcarvers Show - Missoula, MT Boise Woodcarvers Show - Boise, ID Featured Artist - Boys & Girls Club Auction & Dinner Event - Kalispell, MT Featured Artist - 13th Annual Coastal Carvers "Artistry in Wood" Show - Lincoln City, OR 2004 Boise Woodcarvers Show - Boise, ID 12th Annual Coastal Carvers "Artistry in Wood" Show - Lincoln City, OR MEDIA COVERAGE 2010 Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell MT Newspaper, Friday, April 16, People in the News Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls MT Newspaper, Monday, March 22, "Passion, inspiration comes in all shapes" story. - http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20103220307 Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls MT Newspaper, Thursday, March 18, "Big bull elk sculpture wins Best of Show" story. - http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20103180316 2009 Portland Tribune, Portland OR Newspaper, Thursday, Nov. 19, Portland Life section Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell MT Newspaper, Thursday, March 26, People in the News Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls MT Newspaper, Thursday, March 19, "Western Heritage show kicks off week of Great Falls art celebration" story. - http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090319/NEWS01/903190313 Montana Today Show, KECI 13 - NBC, Missoula, MT, Friday, March 6, Guest appearance Wildfowl Carving Competition 2008 Magazine, Saw-whet Owl - Best of Show; Mayors Award; Peoples Choice; Carvers Choice. 2008 Lively Times, MT Arts Publication, October 14, 2008, Art Notes - http://www.livelytimes.com/lt/entry/art_notes_news_about_montana_artists/ Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell MT Newspaper, Sept. People in the News Wildfowl Carving Magazine, Fall 2008, Cover ("Black-capped Chickadee") & article Montana Today Show, KECI 13 - NBC, Missoula, MT, Friday, February 15, Guest appearance Wildfowl Carving Competition 2007 Magazine, Mandarin Drake head purchase award winner photo coverage 2007 Audubon Society of Portland Warbler, Portland, OR, November 2007, Volume 71 Number 11 - Barn Owl sculpture photo appearance and write up about the Festival Lake County Leader, Polson, MT, Thursday, Sept. 13, Outdoors Missoulian, Missoula MT Newspaper, Thursday, June 5, Outdoors cover story (http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/07/05/outdoors/out33.txt). KPAX 8 News, Missoula, MT, Saturday, March 24, Interview for the Montana Wildlife & Art Show Missoulian, Missoula MT Newspaper, Saturday, March 24, Missoula Wildfowl Carving Magazine, Spring 2007, Cover ("Spring Arrival") & article 2006 Sculpture Journal, July, Cover ("Spring Arrival") & Feature Story (first wood sculpture to appear on the cover of this sculpture magazine) Montana Magazine, March/April, Montana Roundup Highlight ("Spring Arrival" - American Robin sculpture) Missoulian, Missoula MT Newspaper, Thursday, May 4, Missoula Woodcarving Show story - used photo of Black-Capped Chickadee sculpture Coastal Carvers 14th Annual "Artistry in Wood" Show 2006, a 32 minute program and interview which also featured my display of sculptures during the show 2005 Raptor Round-Up, Raptors of the Rockies, Florence MT Newsletter, Number 20, December - Barn Owl sculpture photo appearance Raptor of the Rockies Power Point Presentation to Raptor Research Foundation Conference in Green Bay, WI, October and subsequent presentations since - Barn Owl sculpture photo appearance Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell MT Newspaper, Saturday, June 11, Lifestyle Section Feature story Missoulian, Missoula MT Newspaper, Sunday, April 24, Front Page Cover story (http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/04/24/news/top/news01.txt). Fox News, Boise ID, Sunday, February 27, Interview for the Boise Carving Show Wildfowl Carving Competition 2004 Magazine, Decorative Floating Bufflehead Drake and Miniature Harlequin Drake Decoy photo coverage 2004 The Columbian, Vancouver WA Newspaper, Thursday, September 9, Cover page and Section D Live cover (Mountain Bluebird pair sculpture photos used) News-Times, Newport OR Newspaper, Wednesday, January 21, Section B cover photo (Mayor's Award Winner) Wildfowl Carving Competition 2003 Magazine, Decorative Floating Ring-Necked Duck Drake photo coverage 2003 - Headlight-Herald, Tillamook OR Newspaper, Wednesday, July 23, Section B story (teaching a carving workshop in Garibaldi Oregon) 2000 - Wildfowl Carving Competition 1999 Magazine, Miniature swimming Bufflehead Drake photo coverage 1999 - Wildfowl Carving Competition 1998 Magazine, California Open Show Feature Story and Floating Decorative Mallard Drake Best of Show photo coverage 1998 - Missoulian, Missoula MT Newspaper, Saturday, December 5, Front page story NOTABLE AWARDS & HONORS 2010 - 29th Annual Western Heritage Art Show - Great Falls, MT - "Northern Saw-whet Owl", Best Carving, Peoples Choice 2009 - 39th Annual Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition - Ocean City, MD - *"Northern Saw-whet Owl", Decorative Lifesize Wildfowl, 1st Birds of Prey, 3rd Best of Show. 28th Annual Western Heritage Art Show* - Great Falls, MT - "American Kestrel", Best Carving, Best of Show. 2008 - 21st Annual Columbia Flyway Wildfowl Show - Vancouver, WA - *"Saw-whet Owl", Best of Show, Mayors Award, Peoples Choice Award, Carvers Choice Award. Best Sculpture* at the 27th Annual Western Heritage Art Show - Great Falls, MT - with *"Looking Up II"* 2007 - 20th Annual Columbia Flyway Wildfowl Show - Vancouver, WA - "Mandarin Drake Head", Gary Hendriksen Purchase Award Winner. "Moorish Idol" - 1st Best Tropical Fish, 1st Best Fish Overall. 2005 - 18th Annual Columbia Flyway Wildfowl Show - Vancouver, WA - "Spring Arrival", American Robin, 1st in Songbirds, 1st Best Life-sized Wildfowl, 1st Best of Show, Audubon Award, Peoples Choice Award. "1/2 Life-sized Barn Owl", 1st Best Miniature Raptor, 1st Best Miniature Wildfowl. "Lazuli Bunting", Dr. Peter B. Lyons Best of the Northwest Purchase Award Winner. "Ring-Necked Duck Drake Head", Gary Hendriksen Purchase Award Winner. 2004 - 17th Annual Columbia Flyway Wildfowl Show - Vancouver, WA - "Miniature Mallard Drake", 1st Best Miniature Waterfowl, 1st Best Miniature Wildfowl. "Pintail Drake Head", Gary Hendriksen Purchase Award Winner. 35th Annual Pacific Flyway Wildfowl Art Festival - Sacramento, CA - "Bufflehead Drake", Decorative Lifesize Floating Waterfowl, 1st Best in Species, 1st Best in Diver. "Miniature Harlequin Drake Decoy", Miniature Decoy Purchase Award Winner. 34th Annual Ward World Championships - Ocean City, MD - "Bufflehead Drake", Decorative Lifesize Floating Waterfowl, 2nd Best in Species. 12th Annual Coastal Carvers "Artistry in Wood" Show - Lincoln City, OR - "Mountain Bluebird Pair", Mayor's Choice Award. 2003 - 16th Annual Columbia Flyway Wildfowl Show - Vancouver, WA - "Varied Thrush", Dr. Peter B. Lyons Best of the Northwest Purchase Award Winner. "Mountain Bluebird Pair", Audubon Award. "Ring-Necked Duck Drake", Show Chairman's Award. 34th Annual Pacific Flyway Wildfowl Art Festival - Sacramento, CA - "Ring-Necked Duck Drake", Decorative Lifesize Floating Waterfowl, 1st Best in Species, 2nd Best Diver, 2nd Best of Show. 33rd Annual Ward World Championships - Ocean City, MD - "Ring-Necked Duck Drake", Decorative Lifesize Floating Waterfowl, 1st Best in Species, 3rd Best Diver. 1999 - 30th Annual Pacific Flyway Wildfowl Art Festival - Sacramento, CA - "Miniature Swimming Bufflehead Drake", 1st Best in Waterfowl, 2nd Best Miniature. 29th Annual Ward World Championships - Ocean City, MD - "Miniature Swimming Bufflehead Drake", 1st Best Miniature Waterfowl, 3rd Best of Show (Intermediate). Yakima Wood Carvers Show - Yakima, WA - "Miniature Swimming Bufflehead Drake", 1st Best Miniature Waterfowl, 1st Best Miniature, 1st Best of Show. 1998 - California Open Wildfowl Show - San Diego, CA - "Mallard Drake", Decorative Lifesize Floating Waterfowl, 1st Best in Species, 1st Best Marsh Duck, 1st Best of Show (Intermediate). PUBLICATIONS Articles Wildfowl Carving Magazine, (coming soon), *"Painting a Canyon Wren"* Wildfowl Carving Magazine, (coming soon), "Rock and it's Habitat" Wildfowl Carving Magazine, (coming soon), *"Carving a Canyon Wren"* Wildfowl Carving Magazine, Fall 2009, *"Painting a Miniature Harlequin Decoy"* Wildfowl Carving Magazine, Summer 2009, *"Carving a Miniature Harlequin Decoy"* Wildfowl Carving Magazine, Fall 08, "Branching Out" (habitat creation) - Cover Wildfowl Carving Magazine, Summer 2008, "How to Make Barn Owl Feet" Wildfowl Carving Magazine, Winter 2008, *"It's the Thought That Counts"* (Artistry & Composition Overview) Wildfowl Carving Magazine, Spring 2007, *"Working Through a Challenging Project" - Cover* Wildfowl Carving Magazine, Summer 2006, *"Judging from a Judge's Point of View"* *Books (appearances)* Collecting Costume Jewelry 303 - Julie Carroll, 2009 - Authorized Replicas Denny Rogers The Illustrated Owl - Barn, Barred & Great Horned, 2008 - "Rodents Beware" Barn Owl appearance in the Barn Owl Gallery Books (instructional) Carving & Painting the Gyrfalcon, 2009 Carving & Painting the Harlequin Decoy Pair, 2009 Carving & Painting the Black-capped Chickadee, 2008 Carving & Painting the Northern Barn Owl, 2008 Carving & Painting the Belted Kingfisher Male, 2007 Carving & Painting the American Kestrel Male, 2007 Carving & Painting the Moorish Idol, 2007 Painting the Male & Female American Goldfinch, 2006 Painting the Male & Female Western Tanager, 2006 Painting the Green-Winged Teal Drake, 2006 Painting the Black-Capped Chickadee, 2005 Painting the Mountain Bluebird Male, 2004 Carving & Painting the Lazuli Bunting, 2005 Carving & Painting the Northern Cardinal, 2005 Carving & Painting the Barn Owl, 2005 Carving & Painting the Mallard Drake Head, 2005 TEACHING EXPERIENCE 2010 Carving & Painting a Harlequin Drake Decoy - Spokane, WA 2009 Painting the White Gyrfalcon - Mulino, OR Habitat Creation - focus on Rocks and there habitat - Mulino, OR Painting a Northern Saw-whet Owl - Kalispell, MT Carving the Gyrfalcon - Mulino, OR Building Kestrel Feet - Ward World Championships - Ocean City, MD 2008 Habitat Creation - focus on Pine Branches - Mulino, OR Ring-necked Duck Drake Decoy Carving - Florence, MT - In conjuction with the Ward Museum and National Endownment of the Arts - More about the 2008 participants: http://wardmuseum.org/NEA/index.html Painting the Norther Saw-whet Owl - Mulino, OR Carving the Northern Saw-whet Owl - Mulino, OR 2007 Habitat Creation - focus on metal - Mulino, OR Painting an American Kestrel male - Mulino, OR Painting a 1/2 Life-size Barn Owl - Kalispell, MT Carving & Painting a Belted Kingfisher - Garibaldi, OR Carving & Painting a Moorish Idol - Redmond, OR Carving an American Kestrel male - Mulino, OR Painting a 1/3 Life-size Common Raven - Mulino, OR Carving & Painting a Duck Head - Drake Redhead - Garibaldi, OR 2006 Carving a 1/3 Life-size Common Raven - Mulino, OR Carving & Painting a Black-Capped Chickadee - Kalispell, MT Carving & Painting an American Goldfinch - Garibaldi, OR Painting a Black-Capped Chickadee - Kalispell, MT Carving & Painting a Mallard Drake - Kalispell, MT Painting a 1/2 Life-size Barn Owl - Mulino, OR 2005 Carving a 1/2 Life-size Barn Owl - Mulino, OR Carving & Painting a Lazuli Bunting - Garibaldi, OR Painting a Black-Capped Chickadee - Kalispell, MT Painting Techniques - West Glacier, MT Carving a Green-Winged Teal Drake - Kalispell, MT Carving Techniques - Florence, MT Carving & Painting a Mallard Drake Head - Garibaldi, MT 2004 Carving a Mallard Drake - Kalispell, MT Painting a Mountain Bluebird Male - Kalispell, MT Painting Techniques - West Glacier, MT Carving & Painting a Pintail Drake Head - Florence, MT Carving & Painting a Western Tanager Male - Garibaldi, OR Carving & Painting a Green-Winged Teal Drake - Florence, MT Carving & Painting a Bufflehead Drake - Garibaldi, OR Carving & Painting a Mountain Bluebird Male - Florence, MT Carving & Painting a Black-Capped Chickadee - Kalispell, MT 2003 - Carving & Painting a 3/4 Life-size Ring-Necked Duck Drake - Garibaldi, OR PRESENTATIONS 2009 - *Building Kestrel Feet & Bird Feet* - Columbia Flyway Art Show, Vancouver, WA 2007 - *Working Through Challenging Projects* - Coastal Carvers Show, Lincoln City, OR Selecting Your Next Project - Coastal Carvers Show, Lincoln City, OR 2006 - *Acrylic Painting Techniques* - Columbia Flyway Art Show, Vancouver, WA *Composition - A Focus on Habitat* - Coastal Carvers Show, Lincoln City, OR Judging from a Judge's Point of View - Coastal Carvers Show, Lincoln City, OR 2005 - *Artistry & Composition* - Coastal Carvers Show, Lincoln City, OR JUDGING 2009 - Columbia Flyway Wildfowl Show - Open Level Entries, Vancouver, WA Ward World Championships - Novice Level Entries for Lifesize Wildfowl, Miniature Wildfowl, and Best of Show, Ocean City, MD 2008 - Columbia Flyway Wildfowl Show - Novice & Intermediate Level Entries, Vancouver, WA 2007 - Spokane Artistry in Wood Show & Sale - Open & Expert Level Entries, Spokane, WA 2006 - Columbia Flyway Wildfowl Show - Open Level Entries, Vancouver, WA Missoula Wood Carving Show - Open & Expert Level Entries, Missoula, MT 2005 - Ward World Championships - All Level Fish Entries, Ocean City, MD 2004 - Columbia Flyway Wildfowl Show - Novice Level Entries, Vancouver, WA Ward World Championships - All Level Fish Entries, Ocean City, MD Boise Woodcarvers Show - Open & Expert Level Entries, Boise, ID 2003 - Columbia Flyway Wildfowl Show - Novice Level Entries, Vancouver, WA Boise Woodcarvers Show - Open & Expert Level Entries, Boise, ID ART STUDIES Bird Anatomy in Clay with Larry Barth, Ocean City, MD, 2004 Painting a Brook Trout with Jeff Compton, Spokane, WA, 2004 *Carving & Painting a miniature Snowy Owl* with Bob Guge, Yakima, WA, 2002 *Carving & Painting a miniature Stellars Jay* with Bob Guge, Yakima, WA 2001 Carving & Painting a Red Side Trout with Jeff Compton, Yakima, WA 2001 *Carving & Painting a Grayling* with Jeff Compton, Yakima, WA 2000 Carving & Painting a Bluebird with John Berry, Boise, ID, 1995 Carving & Painting a Wood Duck Drake with Ted Smith, Nampa, ID, 1995 ORGANIZATIONS/MEMBERSHIPS The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD International Wildfowl Carving Association, Lifetime Member National Woodcarvers Association National Fish Carvers Guild, Pioneering Member Ducks Unlimited For more information and questions please contact Jerry directly. Jerry Simchuk Art Studio - 415 Orchard Ridge Rd., Kalispell, MT 59901 - (406) 257-1784 - Jerry@Simchuk.com