was a mentor for the private collectors, as well as a friend, and with his direction, the Andrews’ impressive collection grew.
During the last years of Scheeler’s life, Andy was the sole patron of the artist and, upon the carver’s death, was the first in his studio to collect his unfinished artwork. What attracted
the collector to John Scheeler was Scheeler’s ability to capture the attitude and character of each bird, a talent that helped him quickly become a champion carver. There is a strong balance to his work; a balance between colors, textures and movement that results in a powerful representation of each animal he carved.
The Broad-Winged Hawk is an excellent example of that balance. The impressive hawk stalks his prey, preparing for its next meal, ready to attack. The viewer is drawn in by his intense gaze, suggesting you may be this anticipated meal. The systematic placement of the soft texture and brushwork of the feathers suggests rather than depicts the individual feathers. Also note the muscular look of the chest of the bird, a hallmark of Scheeler’s birds of prey. The appearance of movement adds fierceness to the bird of prey, bringing the carving to life. John Scheeler’s realistic carvings create a uniqueness found in no other wildlife artists’ work.
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