| Endangered & Extinct
Animal Woodcarvings |
Other Woodcarvings |
Copper/Aluminum Bas-reliefs |
| Oil
Paintings |
Drawings |
Newspaper
Articles |
|
Longtime
Roaming
Shores, Ohio, resident Edward Benedict "Bud" Kaufman,
literally "carved" his way to fame. A doctor of podiatry, he also
served
in the military as a Naval Petty Officer and owned his own picture
framing and art gallery. When he found he could no longer keep his art
gallery and podiatry practice at the same time, and with the staunch
support of his wife Fae, who was also an artist and musician, he
decided to give up his podiatrist's office and concentrate on his art. Closest to Bud's heart, particularly after retirement in 1981, was the fine art of wood carving. A self-taught artist, Bud was a dedicated advocate for endangered and extinct animals. His unique lifelike carvings constitute a strong statement for their preservation. Bud's favorite saying was, "You don't have to own nature to enjoy it." Beginning in 1979, from his home workshop, he produced some 40 animal carvings. The process for his art began with an idea, which he fully researched before starting the actual project. His many years of studying animal and human anatomy proved to be of great value. Once the research was completed, Bud started his sketches. His wood sculptures of bass and black walnut were done in pieces and then laminated together and painted with oils. Each animal is caught in a characteristic stance, greatly foreshortened bodies emphasizing alertness to an unpredictable future. Kaufman said all life on earth is integrated. "Destroy any species and you diminish us all, because you ruin the balance of nature." His art works have been shown and sold throughout the United States, including The Cleveland Museum of Natural History and The Ward Museum of Salisbury, Maryland. Highly prized by Bud was a letter from Prince Phillip of England acclaiming his work. [from Ward Museum exhibit "Lessons Not Yet Learned: Endangered and Extinct Species"] |