Golden Eagle in hunting mode
My name is Andy Ritchie and I live in Loxwood. As a hobby I am a woodcarver, specialising in wildlife subjects such as birds of prey, moths, butterflies, dragonflies and otters. I took up this pastime when I retired about ten years ago, and it all sort of happened by accident.
After fifty years in the city the firm I was working for gave me a big hint about my future career path by asking me what I would like as a retirement gift. As I had always enjoyed working with wood, I thought a lathe wood be a good idea. I went on a course to learn how to turn wood, and thought that I was well set to supplement my pension by selling the many bowls and candlesticks I was about to make. Wrong! I found that there were hundreds of people doing it so the market was extremely oversupplied.
After a while, all the members of my family possessed as many bowls, cups, wine glasses, pepper mills and candlesticks that they could possibly find space for. Also, I was getting very bored with making things that were round.
At this stage, my wife and I went to the Appart exhibition at King Edward’s School in Witley – and there my life changed. One of the items on display was a bronze casting of a red kite on the wing, which was absolutely fantastic. I spent some time looking at this, and mused, out loud “I wonder whether I could do one of those in wood?” My wife, ever the realist, replied “Oh don’t be so ridiculous!” Now I like a challenge, so I set to with a nice piece of seasoned yew and after about two months of whittling I had finished my first sculpture, which I was very pleased with. Even management was impressed, despite her original doubts.
I spent my spare time for the next few months making a hovering kestrel and when the Appart exhibition came round again I submitted both my birds as exhibits. They were accepted for the show, and I was surprised, and delighted, that somebody bought both sculptures on the preview night. Maybe I had found my retirement hobby! Since that time I have made about fifty or sixty different wildlife items as commissions, gifts, and for the annual Appart show.
I get a great deal of pleasure from making these sculptures and I am extremely pleased that other people seem to get as much pleasure in owning them.
Gorgeous eagle.
Where can we buy these beauties, apart from AppArt?
We couldn’t agree more!
If you’re interested in buying these, you can contact Andy on: regarding this.
We’re sure he will be happy to help.