James Popp
Wood sculptures of birds, hand carved and painted in oils.
Elkhart Lake Wisconsin

Using basswood and oil paint, I make sculptures that feature birds.  My experience watching birds for many years has left me fascinated with their behavior, color, feather patterns, and shapes.  I attempt to incorporate that fascination into my work.

Inspiration for my work can come from watching a bird in the wild, from seeing an unusual pattern in nature, or just having an idea for an unusual juxtaposition of a bird and an unexpected object.  While birds are central to each work, the overall design is the most important aspect.  The bird is integrated into the total composition.  The design may emphasize a geometric or color pattern, or create a whimsical or unexpected look.  It is not the details that are important, but the overall affect.

Each piece starts with an initial sketch.   I then develop patterns to use to cut the top and side profiles from a block of basswood with a band saw.  The remaining work is all done with hand gouges and knives.  The setting for each piece may be also basswood or a variety of natural finished hardwoods.  I paint with oils and then assemble each component into the final composition. 

My work has been shown in national exhibits such as “Birds in Arts” and “Materials Hard and Soft”, as well as regional juried exhibits including the Plymouth Arts Foundation, Wisconsin Designer Craft Council, and the JM Kohler Art Center.