Intricate carvings lead to acclaim for Kalispell artist

When Jerry Simchuk started wood carving, he had no idea there was such a thing as a world competition for carvers. Now he's a regular attendee - and frequent winner - at the international championships.

Simchuk's intricately carved and painstakingly painted birds, ducks and fish grace display cases in the living room of his Kalispell home, and a heap of ribbons piled in his workshop is a testament to the skills he's honed during more than 12 years of carving.

"I'm particular about accuracy," he says of his attention to detail from anatomy to color and even to the habitat of his carving subjects.

That kind of accuracy translates into putting as much as 200 hours of work into some pieces.

Simchuk used to work in software management for Semitool but now carves full time.

His carvings show individual feathers as the birds or ducks perch on, or swim through, their particular habitats. A robin Simchuk is working on sits on his work table next to the branch, fashioned out of metal the artist welds, that the bird eventually will occupy.

Simchuk, 40, consults books and photos to ensure his carvings are as accurate as he can craft them.

His accuracy and his artistic eye have earned him awards at both regional and world carving competitions. He most recently received an honorable mention for his entry in a songbirds category in the advanced level of the Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition, held in April in Ocean City, Md.

"To get a ribbon means you're really good," he says.

When Simchuk says that, it doesn't sound like bragging but more like he's simply explaining what recognition in the world competition means to a carver.

"My rule is any time you end up placing in the top three, that's good enough. You don't have to be number one."

About 1,200-2,000 people enter the world competitions each year.

Simchuk has won first in category and third best in miniatures at the intermediate level as well as other awards at worlds. This year was the second year he also judged at the championships.

The artist readily acknowledges he has a competitive side.

"I thrive on competition, so it's kind of a double-edged sword," he says of attending championships, "because you're there to learn, but I also like to win."

Carving and competing fulfill for Simchuk two interests he found himself missing once he reached his mid-20s.

He was interested in art, such as painting, when he was growing up. And he was into competing, a need he met through sports when he was younger.

But art and sports became less of a priority as he got older and as he started a career in software engineering and management.

"I was always looking for something to get back into art with," he says.

He and his wife, entomologist Kate Parkin, spotted some wood carvings at an art show while they were living in Boise, Idaho.

"Of course, looking at the prices, I was like, 'Boy, that's a little spendy,'" Simchuk says.

Now that he knows how much time, skill and work go into such carvings, he understands the pricing. His pieces run from $500 for small works to more than $10,000 for a life-size eagle.

He liked what he saw at the shows, but figured he'd try it himself rather than buying one. Simchuk started with a fish, which he still does on occasion, and learned the carving trade from books and lessons with other carvers.

He eventually entered a regional contest and found carving could satisfy his urge for competition.

Simchuk starts with a piece of wood he cuts to resemble a very rough outline of his subject, called a blank. Then he uses power tools to bring out the true shape and dimension of the bird, duck or fish. Simchuk used a knife when he first started carving, but he quickly realized power tools were much more efficient.

Even for fine details he uses power tools, such as a drill similar to what dentists use. A razor tip that heats up lets Simchuk burn the wood for super-fine work such as feathers. Burning might take as much as one third of the total time he spends on a work.

Then comes the painting. Simchuk uses acrylic paint to add color to his works. Some parts he airbrushes, others he does by hand.

Technically his art involves two disciplines: carving and painting. He practices three disciplines when factoring in the sculpture work he does when welding and crafting metal for the branches his birds sit on.

Occasionally Simchuk models a piece in clay before he begins carving. Working in clay lets him easily change aspects of the project such a subject's position.

"Whereas if you do it in wood," he says, "you're done."

When he's not carving commissioned pieces, Simchuk is either reading science fiction (his favorite is Steven King) or teaching carving classes both locally and out of state. In September he will teach at Northland Hobbies in Kalispell. He also makes time for working on competition pieces.

And keeping with his competitive drive, he's already thinking ahead for his entry at the 2006 world championships: a pair of goldeneye ducks that no doubt will be detailed down to the feather.

For more information, contact Simchuk at 257-1784 or jsimchuk@in-tech.com

Reporter Camden Easterling can be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com