Woody Blackwell
Woody Blackwell’s sculptures are made from recycled and reclaimed materials as much as possible. Materials include galvanized sheet steel, antique advertising tins, bottle caps, paint, and wood. And nails — lots of nails. Each piece balances anatomical accuracy against stylized interpretation. Many pieces are meant to look aged, as though they were made 100 years ago by an observant fisherman with an artistic eye who worked with whatever items he had at hand. Blackwell’s goal is to use non-traditional materials to replicate the beauty of fish and whales (and occasionally birds and animals). The use of a wide range of mixed media allows him to explore materials, textures, patterns, color, and juxtapositions, as well as the aesthetic of wabi sabi and the process of entropy.
Blackwell holds degrees in both art and biology. Fish are clearly a passion, as are birds, mammals, trees, rivers, oceans, mountains…the entire natural world. “Except ticks. Not a big tick fan.”
Blackwell has been making art more or less full-time since 1994 but feels he’s just getting started.