From Wood Scraps to "Birds in Art"
Spencer Tinkham Lecture
Penny Redmon Visiting Lecturer
September 26, 2023 | 2PM-4PM
204 S Austin St Rockport, TX
Free for Members -Members Only
Lecture Description
Spencer Tinkham began carving wood scraps and soap bars on the back deck with his grandfather at age eight. Without formal art training, he launched his career as a full-time artist after graduating from Baylor University with a degree in Economics. His wildlife art is collected and exhibited worldwide. He has demonstrated atop Time, Inc. in New York and shown in multiple prestigious "Birds in Art" exhibitions. He is a David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Artist of the Year 2023 finalist in London, UK.
In this lecture, Spencer will describe how his grandparents and love for birds inspired him to create art. He will trace his growth from his earliest works to hunting decoys, rustic folk art and present contemporary wildlife sculptures. Attendees will hear about Spencer's unexpected journey to become an artist, his tools, mixing oils from pigment powders, daily creative exercises, and much more. Towards the end, there will be time for Q&A.
About the Instructor
Spencer Tinkham developed a fondness for the natural world, investigating the water’s edge throughout his childhood. Before passing away from cancer, his grandfather instilled a lifelong passion for carving at age eight. Nothing enthralled Spencer more than large flocks of hungry waterfowl wintering behind his home. His first carvings were from small wood scraps. Next, Spencer carved life-sized duck decoys to lure waterfowl closer and to critique his work next to wild birds. As a teenager, he twice won the Youth World Duck Decoy Carving Championship. His sculptures are no longer utilitarian, but Spencer still uses many reclaimed materials. Entirely self-taught, his recent body of work was inspired by a feather he closely examined on a daily walk during the COVID-19 pandemic. Colors, shapes, and textures in natural objects, which are not easily discernible to the human eye, inspired his “macroscultpures.” Spencer’s work is collected and exhibited internationally. He is a David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Artist of the Year 2023 finalist and has pieces in the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and Dollar Tree, Inc. collections.