Kens Blog

Time to up-date

4/11/2018

Gee,I have not been up to speed with this and I must apologize for that, but I have not been idle, really busy in the studio with projects but also busy with life in general.
I challenged my self to carve a full size Red Tail Hawk, which I was very pleased with the out come as my research was through photo's and the net, as well as Floyd Scholz awesome book of "Birds of Prey" which I found to-be a great inspiration.
From the finish project, this was noticed by a member of a recently formed group "New Zealand Bird of Prey Trust" which has formed locally to attend injured birds and re-introduce them back to nature,and now they wish to have a carving of their star member a NZ Swamp Harrier called "Tommy" (full size) so maybe another 6 months work ahead, plus some small projects to complete.
Have posted a few photo's in gallery, and a video on projects in process and will add some pics when project is completed, until next time,keep safe.

It's been a long Time.

7/27/2016

It has been a long time since any up-grade to the site has been achieved, but I do promise that I have not been idol,

Time has been taken up with a lot of projects and challenges to improve on my skills , in the art of wildfowl carving.
First applying to the association of the "British Decoy and Wildfowl Carving Association', and been accepted as, so far the only member from New Zealand, which is awesome as now I have contact with others that do this as an art form as a group we meet on face-book for a chat room meeting once a month so a lot is passed on from one and all.
   Second on the list I have achieved some real challenges set by me in doing a full size Barn Owl not common in NZ as well as a pair of NZ Whitefront Terns, trying to give the impression of free flight, rather than a solid mount, also achieved some small native birds, to add to the gallery.
   Mid July seen my wife, grand-daughter, and my self travel south to Riversdale 9 day, 43 Art Expo as a guest artist, to display my art with many others, it was very interesting from the comments on the opening night from those attending, and its back down this week-end 30th/31st July to collect, and hoping the snow stays away.
   There are some other shows coming up soon so its back to the studio as well as a major challenge of carving and sending to Bakewell in the UK a Starling for our group challenge for 2016.
   So until next time which may be a while, regards Ken.

Over the Moon

7/25/2015

Hello folks,
have been a little soft of late, and not really achieved any real results in the studio,
been to cold is my cry, -4 to -7 continuous frosts and cool breeze's with the fire in-side to inviting to leave, (must be getting old and soft in my advancing years), and to those who know me well, please keep your comments to your-selves.
So have spent the time on the laptop doing some serious research for future challenge's, with patterns, photos and other data, that I hope may one day turn into art that may be admired.
I found some paintings by NZ artist Raymond Ching of NZ birds that got me thinking out of the square, which has thrown down the challenge to may- be try and turn in a 3D art form, similar to my larger carvings of the mallards and white face heron of the past, so may-be in the future I hope to have something to show, but will still do my small birds, as these are very much in demand. I do have a couple of commissions to achieve before September, for my sons boss who is taking his team to China for a conference and with his last trip learnt a lesson that you present your host with a gift, as he has one of my works, has pointed the finger at me to come up with the goods for him and if I pass the test that will bring a total of 7 carvings in China for me, over the pass few years.
To day I received some awesome news that I have been accepted the the British Decoy & Wildfowl Carvers Association, which means I can now have contact with those carvers over the other side of the world that do the same as me, and may- be stop talking to my- self, trying to understand magazines, or books e.t.c,. I may not get to their big carving shows to compete, but the information passed on through contact will be awesome.
Friday the 24th have a date at the Timaru Wood Turners Club with the local Probus Club to talk a little and show of the art of carving so that will be interesting, so I must sign off for now and sort out what I might need to make it interesting for those senior citizen's so they do not fall asleep in class.
Any way until next time keep safe, tools sharp , and happy results in your endeavours. Regards Ken.

A Bit of a Wake-up Call

6/30/2015

A LITTLE OF THE WALL.
Bondering my thoughts the other day in the studio,I notice that I was getting a little further
away from my work- bench to feel comfortable in doing my carving, when I had the sudden
realization that I was resting my project on my stomach!!(now I have a carry round work-bench
not good and not a good sight), so started to think that I've got to get out more and do some serious
exerciseing. Now I know my family have been hinting for a while, but who listen's to what may
be the truth any more.
Then recently a friend posted the following on face-book, and I thought now that's a coincidence
and had a good laugh, so to those who may be at their wood skills on a full time base's may be
a look in the reflection glass for a self diagnose may help,any way have a look and a laugh, you
may just get up and have a wee dance. NOW THAT'S EXERCISE.

June 2015

6/23/2015

Hi every one,
as mentioned in my last contact,my grand daughter had a request for me to attend and display at her school art week, which was very interesting as the pupils were really interested in the art form of carving,and to help thing along a member of the wood turners club was doing his bit as well,on the lath so in all it was a good day.
Later in the month I also put a show on for Timaru Boys High School for their Art week and was first told that we would have 15 lads who were keen to learn about the art of carving, but on the day had 32 students in the class, this also went very well, managed to hold their attention for 3.5 hours.
I covered the different forms in the art, they did some drawing in the form of design, then finished the morning of by doing some 3D carving with cakes of soap, with plastic knifes ,so nobody was injured and nobody died
So now with a little clear window in front of me at the moment, I may manage to get back into the studio , and put some of my thoughts into some wood, as all-though I have been sitting on my hands of late ,the idea's keep coming, which in one way is a good thing, I've just got to find it in a piece of wood.
So until I tickle the keys again keep safe, and will catch up later.
Regards Ken.

It's been "Busy Time's"

5/26/2015

It's been a while,
since I last added a post, a lot of water has gone under the bridge and unfortunately not a lot achieved in the studio
Having finally wound up our late Mum's estate, things are slowly getting back to some normality, and having our grand-daughter with us at the moment, was requested or instructed by her ( not sure which) to turn up at her school for their Art week, to demo and show my carvings, which really was a lot of fun and a very proud grand-daughter who could not contain her-self that, that was her granddad on show.The real joy was to see the face's of these students, who were trying really hard to work out how you can turn a piece of (fire)wood into something of beauty to look at, and the questions just keep coming.
I've now also have been contacted from the art teacher from Timaru Boys High School to also give a day of my time to promote, and speak about the art form of wood carving in general, which I'm more than happy to do, as its promoting the skill in its many forms, even though my passion is in carving birds, so it may-be an interesting day !.
Back in April I received an invite to take part in the" Riversdale Arts Inc." (Southland) to enter some of my work, at their 10 day annual art exhibition, to be held in July, but unfortunately, I had just delivered some of my latest works to the Gallery Lavaud at Akaroa, and as it takes time to put together a carving to be proud of, and with little time on my side, I had to turn the invite down, but their return email was requested to be ready for 2016,as they still wish for me to be involve, for which I'm rather excited about, and it has been really heartening that my art is reaching out there to those of interest, Thanks to Gallery Lavaud for promoting and may- be my web site,at
Until next time to all those who follow with interest keep safe and in good health
Regards Ken.
Ijan recently post the following on his face-book page which put a smile on my face, awesome Gallery Lavaud Akaroa.

Easter Weekend 3rd April 2015

4/4/2015

Easter here already, where has the months gone, I have only just started to look at my bucket list of recent and I'm no where near what I had planned, never mind we are in good health, have just come through a great summer,weather wise and have ticked off a few achievements in our yard, so may be, will get to do some work done in the studio soon.
I have recently achieved some up-dating my web site to be a little more interesting after 4 yrs , so please bare with me as we move forward with this project.
My intension of carving terns on the wing are well into the planning stage, with drawings done and how I intend to balance these birds on their wings, after a few lesson's learnt from my Mallard project, so now to find the wood to get started, and hope to do a video record of this project.
Our recent day at the "Tekapo Fete" 8th of March was a great day out, with wonderful weather and some success with sales, as now I have some more of my carvings out there in new homes, which is very satisfying. I also had the honour to have my carving "Caught on the Wing " Mallard project as guest artist at the entry gallery at the fete, which created a lot of conversation at our stall, so that was a positive out come to a good day also.
So until I have achieved in the future, keep safe to you all and as they say "I'll be Back"
Regards Ken

Moving On

1/30/2015

Hi Folks, Life is moving on slowly,as we settle back to a normal life pattern, having managed to put my-self back into the studio to put my passion back into some wood, just finished a "Little Owl" also known as the "German Owl", this small Bird of Prey, has been introduced into New Zealand, the length is about 23cm and is mainly found on farm land or pockets of bush and trees near urban settlements.
The next one I would like to attempt may be landing with wings open so I can really get the feather detail in place. Have added two photos to the gallery page.
The hands with a dove taking off that I had on my last Blog, was a carving I did back around 1998/99 which was sold to a local client back then, but I was lucky to still have a photo of it,
With the Tekapo festival getting closer (8th March) its going to be a little busy around here over the next month, a-part to doing some small song birds, also would like to try another wing tip balancing carving this time of a couple of Tern's. I found some photos ,cut them out ,then set them up to give me an idea of a plan of attack, so we will see if I can achieve !!.

A Mixed start to 2015

1/17/2015

Welcome to 2015 to you all,
The start for me has been happy on one hand, but also very sad on the other.
The carving of the Heron was very much appreciated by Ijan and Pip at the Gallery Lavaud in Akaroa, and has been creating a lot of interest, and discussion for them, so that's been awesome. Ijan recently in the last few days also informs me that they have had some sale's of my art, which has reduced his stocks, so that can only mean one thing, back to the studio,as I also require carvings for the up and coming Tekapo festival in March, but hay its better than gardening, so some new carving's are on the cards.
The down side of life is that my two sisters and my-self have been left as orphans, as our mother past away on the 6th January in her 92 yr, but she is now at peace, and with out pain, and knowing my mum, her comment to us would be,just get on with it and do your best in your challenge's, so bless her and rest in peace MUM.

Until we catch up again take care and I'll be back soon
Regards Ken.

One More Before 2015

12/26/2014

Hello to all,
I trust that you all have had a wonderful Christmas and hopefully do not require to let out those waist belts to far,
. I was not going to do another blog until next year, but I got myself rather busy in the last week or two in the studio, and completed a carving in which I want to present and gift to Ijan and Pip at the gallery in Akaroa, for all of their support over the last couple of years of my art,making sales is awesome, but the work they do to support their artist is far greater, so this is a little way of me saying thank-you, I did hope to have it delivered for Christmas, but now it looks like a new year delivery, but I don't think they would mind.
The carving is a little abstract, 75cm in height, to what I have done in the past, had seen a similar project at one of the public bird shows in the UK, so designed mine on of a White Face Heron, which is seen a lot around the water front in Akaroa.
So now this will be my last contact blog for 2014, and I wish you all a happy and safe 2015.