Dennis Drechsler

marine woodcarver

 

Dennis Drechsler is a professional woodcarver specializing in whales, sharks and dolphins. A professional carver for the past 17 years, Dennis has established a reputation as one of Canada’s foremost marine woodcarvers. Largely self-taught, his ability to capture form and motion in his carvings comes from an ability to keenly observe and note nature’s design and bring it out in the wood.

His marine carvings are all original pieces of art and start out as square blocks of basswood. Patterns are drawn on the wood and the rough shapes are cut out on a bandsaw. Then, using specialized woodcarving tools, the shapes are refined and painted with acrylic paints. The bases are handcrafted from black walnut and are designed individually for each carving. Each sculpture is unique and has its own serial number. This number, accompanied by the artist’s signature, is displayed on the carving’s base.

Dennis has won numerous awards and ribbons for his realistic portrayals of Cetaceans. "I compete in many of the woodcarving competitions throughout the Pacific Northwest, both in Canada and the US, and to date I have won six "Best Of Show" Awards. In April 2000, I competed at the Ward World Championship Woodcarving Competition in Ocean City, Maryland and my carving of a Gray Whale, mother and calf, was selected as the show winner for Aquatic Vertebrates."

He is also a qualified **PNC carving judge and serves as a major judge for woodcarving competitions throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Dennis and his wife Barbara live in Victoria, BC, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Canada.

**Pacific Northwest Carvers Advisory Council

 

Artist Resume

Current Galleries

The Gallery at Mattick’s Farm Victoria BC

109 – 5325 Cordova Bay

Victoria BC V8Y 2L3 (250) 658-8333      http://www.matticksfarm.com/merchants/gallery/gallery.htm

e-mail: dawnmscott@shaw.ca

 

Side Street Studio

204-2250 Oak Bay Ave.

Victoria BC, V8R 1G5  (250) 592-1262      http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/

e-mail: info@sidestreetstudio.com

 

Past Galleries

• Marine Adventure Gallery, Victoria BC

• Snow Goose Gallery, Ottawa ON

• Northern Passage Gallery, Victoria BC

• Boardwalk Gallery, Duncan BC

• James R. Currie, Art Broker, Ottawa ON

Exhibitions

• "Whales: An Enduring Legacy" Royal BC Museum -1997, 1998

• Out Of Hand Christmas Show, Victoria BC – 1991, ‘92, ‘93, ‘94, ‘96, 2006

•Circle Craft Christmas Fair, Vancouver BC – 1995, 1996

• numerous local art and studio tours

Affiliations

• member - Vancouver Island Woodcarvers Club

• Qualified PNC woodcarving judge

• member - Pacific Northwest Carvers Advisory Council

• sponsorship coordinator - Brant Wildlife Festival Woodcarving Competition

• BC Nature Trust

Teaching  woodcarving classes

• Red Deer Community College, Red Deer Alta every August

• Shuswap Woodcarving School, Sorrento BC every September

• Tools and Space Woodworking, Victoria BC every January

Awards

• Six "Best in Show" awards at woodcarving competitions

throughout the Pacific Northwest

• "First in Category" and "Best in Division – Aquatic Vertebrates"

At the Ward World Championship Wildlife Carving Competition.

Ocean City, Maryland April 2000.

Publications magazine articles for …

• Woodcarving Illustrated - Spring 2001 – Killer Whale Project

• Wildfowl Carving and Collecting – Summer 2001 – Dust Collection

• Carving Magazine – Winter 2003 - Flying Canada Goose