Loading ...W. Ray Freden
The abundant shorebirds and waterfowl wildlife just beyond his back door on the North and South Rivers provided inspiration for his hand-carved creations.
W. Ray Freden, a South Shore native of Massachusetts, uses his natural talent to create interpretive images of wildlife. For over 50 years, he has relied on his hands for his livlihood – first as a self-employed cabinetmaker, then as a cabinetmaking instructor and presently as a self-taught wood carver.
Ray has always been fascinated by the movements and postures of wild birds and the craftsmen who carved wooden decoys. In the early 1980’s Ray decided to give it a try. After hours of researching and photographing the shorebirds and waterfowl anong the Atlantic Flyway, Ray carved his first six (6) shorebirds in 1983, which now adorn the windows of his antique cape home.
Ray’s approach is to create “old-looking” and “simple art.” However, they must be a close imitation of life. The shorebird, waterfowl and whale carvings are made from white cedar and some white pine. The beaks are hardwood (maple, birch, oak or ash), shouldered and tennoned into, or through, the head. Most have relief-cut wings, and deep vee tails. They are grained, primed, base coated and painted with up to five colors of a special crackle finish paint. Wearing is done to reveal unfinished wood on protuding edges, much like a well used antique.
