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Art,
on the wing
Wild
birds come to life in Warren artist's studio (Continued)
By
Brenda Marks
After a decade
as a carpenter, he decided to give carving his full-time attention.
Carving and painting were in him by then, and he couldn't ignore the
pull of his art.
He admits he
likes the feel of the wood, the process of bringing a bird to life
with his hands, the solitude of painting by a river, and the
satisfaction of conceiving an idea and then turning a hunk of wood
into something beautiful. His two English setters, Emma and Megan,
keep him company when his wife, Brooke, 49, is at work.
| "Isolation
is good for concentration," Rice said, though he also
revealed there are cold winter days when he can't get out and
would like someone to talk to.
His studio
shelves are stuffed with books such as "Game Bird
Carving" by Bruce Burk. An English saddle sits on a stool.
There is a file filled with pictures of waterfowl, birds of
prey, songbirds. The wood workshop where he cuts up the bass
wood into blocks has a cigar box on one shelf labeled "box
of eyes" in black magic marker.
When he gets an idea, Rice sketches the outline of a bird on a paper
template. He traces the figure onto a block of wood and then cuts out
the shape using a band saw. He uses chisels and knives to pare away
the wood to bring the bird or feather to light. Dental drill bits help
him add detail.
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Collectors say
that Rice is one of the best in the country, said Mullen, 43, of New
Milford.
"We've been
selling his work for more than four years," Mullen said.
"People who love detail and realism are fascinated by the
craftsmanship involved."
Mullen stressed
that there are a number of bird carvers, but carving feathers is a
unique talent.
"He's
attracted some pretty top-level galleries across the country,"
said Mullen, who has 11 of Rice's pieces for sale in his shop right
now.
Rice has sold
pieces through the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Wyoming. His art
is also displayed at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin
and at the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Maryland.
At the
Spanierman Gallery on East 58th Street in New York City, Rice's
feathers sell well, said Judy Salerno, assistant to the managing
director. The New York City gallery, which is known for vintage
American art, started selling Rice's work in 1999.
"He's
fabulous," she said.
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Rice walked in
off the street one day with a feather carving tucked under one arm. He
showed it off, Salerno said, and she was impressed.
"We were
amazed. We couldn't believe it was a carved feather," she said.
"His work is so unique."
Rice accepts the
accolades with a modest shrug.
"It's
really what I love," he said.
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