WHAT'S HATCHING ?
Warbler 'Medleys'
With a view toward making two or thee "Warbler Medleys", I've begun making Pocketknife carvings of five pretty warbler species. I'll choose beautiful driftwood bases to be hung on the wall and will mount one of each of the five species on them. They will be beautiful.
Lifesize Chainsaw Otter & Trout
When finished, this White Pine sculpture of an adult and young otter will be heading up to a remote fishing lodge in Maine. A composition this intricate calls for a clay model to serve as a model. The carving then progresses through many stages, from chainsaws, to angle-grinders, then to smaller, hand-held grinding tools with a variety of bits, until it is ready to be painted.
Lifesize Common Loon
Every 'critter' God has made is filled with beautiful design, but the beauty of few is as difficult to copy as that of the Common Loon. The loon is made up of a number of areas that are difficult to render accurately - both with knife and brush, like the shape of the bill, the shape of the head, the protruding necklace, the concentric grooves and lines on either side of the breast, the spots on the back that vary in size from front to back and from side to side.. The Common Loon may be common, but he is far from ordinary!
25 BLUE JAY FLATS
WHAT HAS RECENTLY HATCHED ?
50 LOON FLATS
Hermit Thrushes
Cedar Waxwing and Eastern Bluebird [female]
6" LOONS
Welcome to Pondside Studio!
I'm Allen Aardsma.
In 1963, when I was ten years old, I carved my first bird -- a Goldfinch. Since then, I have carved nearly 200 species of birds and animals -- more than 3,000 individual carvings -- most of them with a Buck #307 jackknife. Many of them can be seen in this website's 'Pocketknife' and 'Powertool' Galleries.
You can, also, view past carvings by clicking the "More Carvings" button at the bottom of this page.
A friend said, "There are many fun and interesting little crevices to explore on your website". I hope you have fun exploring.
"Oh, Lord, what a variety of things You have made!
In wisdom You made all creatures, great or small;
the earth is full of them!
Your workmanship is marvelous -
how well I know it!
Let us give to the Lord [not to evolution]
the glory due to His name."
Psalm 104:24; 139:14; 29:2
Some of The Master's handiwork:
a Mourning Cloak butterfly on a White Pine cone
on a bed of pine needles, grass and moss.
Just try making any one of these things!
"The beauty of nature is a theme which permeates you and emanates from you. God has given you a special aptitude to see it and to be able to share it with others." GA
I am holding one of the very nicest gifts I've ever been given by a customer: a hardcover book entitled "The Artist", covering the carving of "Stormy" from beginning to end. Pictures of the process, of the real Stormy, of my family, and of this Adirondack setting are accompanied by the most clever poem and comments.
This is a real treasure - one I will prize for the rest of my life.
Thanks, E & L!
(Pictures of the process of carving "Stormy" can be seen in this site's "Powertool Gallery".)
This is a real treasure - one I will prize for the rest of my life.
Thanks, E & L!
(Pictures of the process of carving "Stormy" can be seen in this site's "Powertool Gallery".)
A styrofoam relief carving commissioned by Smile Lodge Pediatric Dentistry, Clifton Park, NY. (Picture: courtesy of M. McMahon.)
"Your work is just beautiful!" RP (6-1-21)
"I get such special joy from your creations." JH
A life-size, power-tooled Barred Owl, made from an 18" length of Basswood trunk.
"Wanted to say thank you for the amazing carving you did for us.
I was just staring at it today for five minutes and it made me think of you. Thank you so much!" EM
I was just staring at it today for five minutes and it made me think of you. Thank you so much!" EM
"Your artistry is incredible. Like just wow!" JL
A pocketknife pair of Eastern Cardinals.
"Each of your carvings is a treasure and brings us joy." MP
A pocketknife Brookie and Rainbow. "Fisherman's Heaven"
"Your carvings are scientifically accurate, yet artistically beautiful." KZ
"Words cannot do the carving justice! We are over the moon!"
More carvings can be viewed by clicking, below.
"We are grateful for your love for all living creatures and for the miracle of your gifted hands." AH