This is a serious piece of work. California carver Tom Nickelson signed and dated the bottom in 2011, about six years into his career, and it shows the confidence of someone who has put in the time. The trout is anatomically accurate, 10 inches from nose to tail, mounted on a custom-carved rock-form base that was built as part of the sculpture, not tacked on later.
The most distinctive thing about it is the wood grain. Nickelson selected and oriented the blank so the natural figure of the wood reads as scale texture across the flanks. No burning, no painting. The grain lines follow the curve of the body the way scales actually do on a fish. Combined with 12mm Tohickon glass eyes, which are what professional wildlife carvers use, the result is convincingly real without looking overdone. Natural oil finish throughout. Hand-set mounting hardware.
Nickelson is a member and past officer of the Central Coast Woodcarvers, Chapter 7 of the California Carvers Guild, out of Morro Bay. He sold work through Park Street Gallery in Paso Robles, a cooperative representing over 50 Central Coast artists. He is an active fly fisherman and keeps frozen fish heads on hand for anatomical reference. He sources wood from specialty suppliers in California and Oregon. A carved myrtlewood piece of his is permanently installed in the Oregon State University president's residence. This is not a hobbyist carving.
Signed and dated studio fish carvings with glass eyes and carved bases by guild-affiliated carvers sell in the $350 to $600 range at retail. This one is priced at $450.
Details
- Artist: Tom Nickelson, Arroyo Grande, CA
- Signed: "T Nickelson 2011" on underside
- Dimensions: 10"L x 2.5"W x 6"H including base
- Weight: 9.7 oz
- Eyes: Tohickon 12mm glass
- Base: Carved natural wood, rock form, integral to the piece
- Finish: Natural oil
- Condition: Excellent, no damage or repairs