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He pioneered the world of fish carving. Considered the "father of fish carving", he is the most influential carver in his field. With experience of more than four decades in a career as a wildlife artist, Bob Berry of El Cajon, CA, is at the top of his game. "I enjoy my work more than ever," says Berry. "I have reached the point where there is nothing I can`t do in the carving arena. If I can visualize it, I can carve it, whatever it is".
It was through his efforts that the hobby of fish carving launched from a side division at taxidermy shows to the stand-alone art form it is today. He set the standard for fish carving in the 1980`s, sweeping every major division at the first World Fish Carving Championships in 1985 and repeated his performance again eighteen years later in 2003. Today, the WFCC attracts carvers from thirty-three countries on five continents.
"I`m more creative now and I have so many ideas that it`s just a matter of finding the time to execute them", he says. "There`s no way that I can see them all through, but the ideas that really excite me are the ones I try to make happen. It`s pressure that`s self-imposed, but it`s a good pressure. It motivates me every day. I`m in the shop carving by 8 am and I enjoy every minute of it.
It was through his efforts that the hobby of fish carving launched from a side division at taxidermy shows to the stand-alone art form it is today. He set the standard for fish carving in the 1980`s, sweeping every major division at the first World Fish Carving Championships in 1985 and repeated his performance again eighteen years later in 2003. Today, the WFCC attracts carvers from thirty-three countries on five continents.
"I`m more creative now and I have so many ideas that it`s just a matter of finding the time to execute them", he says. "There`s no way that I can see them all through, but the ideas that really excite me are the ones I try to make happen. It`s pressure that`s self-imposed, but it`s a good pressure. It motivates me every day. I`m in the shop carving by 8 am and I enjoy every minute of it.
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A self-taught artist with no formal training, Bob chose a career path early on. At the age of 12, he spent a $10 bill he received for his birthday on a mail-order taxidermy course, turning his hobby into a career after graduating from Helix High School in 1964.
He apprenticed at Lyons & O`Haver Taxidermy under master taxidermists Hughie Lyons and Mike O`Haver until he was drafted, serving 2 years in The Army, one year in Viet Nam during the height of the war in 1969. He received two bronze stars.
In 1973, he opened his commercial taxidermy studio, Animal Arts, in Ocean Beach. A customer encouraged him to make a wood carving of a duck decoy. He won first place with his piece, and it changed the course of his career. Confident he could compete with some success, he began his metamorphosis from taxidermist to wildlife artist and wood carver, primarily duck decoys.
He apprenticed at Lyons & O`Haver Taxidermy under master taxidermists Hughie Lyons and Mike O`Haver until he was drafted, serving 2 years in The Army, one year in Viet Nam during the height of the war in 1969. He received two bronze stars.
In 1973, he opened his commercial taxidermy studio, Animal Arts, in Ocean Beach. A customer encouraged him to make a wood carving of a duck decoy. He won first place with his piece, and it changed the course of his career. Confident he could compete with some success, he began his metamorphosis from taxidermist to wildlife artist and wood carver, primarily duck decoys.
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Bob joined Pacific Southwest Wildlife Artists in 1974. PSWA is a non-profit organization founded to support and promote wildlife art and decoy carving. Bob has served on the Board of Directors, as President, Vice President, and Show Chairman. This year, PSWA will hold its 40th annual California Open show & competition, which is considered to be one of the best shows of its kind in the country.
Throughout the 1970`s, Bob became prominent in the world of taxidermy, sitting of the board of directors of the National Taxidermy Association,becoming a contributing editor for Wide World of Taxidermy Magazine, American Taxidermist, Taxidermy Review, and he continues to write articles for Breakthrough Magazine, the largest taxidermy publication in the country.
In the early 1980`s, Bob transitioned to carving fish and pioneered the art. He decided to put down the airbrush he used in taxidermy work in favor of hand painting his pieces, which he continues to do today. It was during this time that he published his first book, Decoy Patterns in 1983, and became a best-selling author in 1988, literally writing the book on fish carving, with; Fish Carving; An Introduction, which continues to be the best-selling book on the subject. Also in 1988, he was given an award by the San Diego Oceans Foundation who commissioned him to create the Roger Revelle Perpetual Award.
Throughout the 1970`s, Bob became prominent in the world of taxidermy, sitting of the board of directors of the National Taxidermy Association,becoming a contributing editor for Wide World of Taxidermy Magazine, American Taxidermist, Taxidermy Review, and he continues to write articles for Breakthrough Magazine, the largest taxidermy publication in the country.
In the early 1980`s, Bob transitioned to carving fish and pioneered the art. He decided to put down the airbrush he used in taxidermy work in favor of hand painting his pieces, which he continues to do today. It was during this time that he published his first book, Decoy Patterns in 1983, and became a best-selling author in 1988, literally writing the book on fish carving, with; Fish Carving; An Introduction, which continues to be the best-selling book on the subject. Also in 1988, he was given an award by the San Diego Oceans Foundation who commissioned him to create the Roger Revelle Perpetual Award.
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The 1990`s saw him shift to creating big bronze sculptures for zoos, leaving him little time for pursuing carving competitions. His bronze wildlife installations include; San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Viejas Outlet Shopping Mall, Dallas Zoo, Toledo Zoo, Busch Gardens, FL, Cypress Gardens, Mission Trails Regional Park, Chula Vista. Nature Center, Living Desert Zoo, Palm Desert Zoo, and the U.S. Naval Medical Center in San Diego.
Bob Berry is a taxidermist, accomplished bronze sculptor, champion decoy and bird carver, world champion fish carver and best-selling author whose clients include Vice President George H.W. Bush, HRH Prince of Wales, Avon Cosmetics, Inc. and the Franklin Mint.
And, he`s just getting started . . .
Bob Berry is a taxidermist, accomplished bronze sculptor, champion decoy and bird carver, world champion fish carver and best-selling author whose clients include Vice President George H.W. Bush, HRH Prince of Wales, Avon Cosmetics, Inc. and the Franklin Mint.
And, he`s just getting started . . .