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Bison Carving

Regular price$395.00 CAD Sale price
Bison Carving
by Jim Dearing Animal Figure Wood Carver

Salt Spring artisan Jim Dearing is endlessly motivated by nature and animals.  His delicate miniatures are whittled from various types of wood with precision and delicacy. Utilizing yellow cedar, maple burl and sometimes bone,, these intricate sculptures are an example of his mastery of carving.

“Every block of wood holds a story—I just carve my way toward it.”

Animal Figure Wood Carver Jim Dearing

In the enchanting realm of Salt Spring Island, meet Jim Dearing, a former boat builder turned whimsical wood magician. His journey began on the high seas, where he sailed and swapped stories with local carvers who sparked his creative flame.

Now, with a twinkle in his eye and a knack for carving, Jim conjures miniature boat wonders and carves the critters of North America into existence. He's not just a master carver; he's a wood whisperer with a salty spirit.

Amidst the island's gentle breezes and ocean whispers, Jim Dearing continues to bring wood to life, weaving tales of land and sea. He recently moved his passion from North American animals and began carving African animals. He continues to celebrate the wild animals of the world.

Each precious piece takes at least a month or more to carve.

Artist Statement

I spent years building boats and travelling the coast, and the wood taught me more than any classroom could. Carving wildlife feels like a way of honouring those years—of shaping stories from the grain. Every animal begins as a gesture hidden in the wood, and I simply reveal it, slowly, one cut at a time.

Jim Dearing

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