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Retired carpenter, Mike Michalek, knows his birds well which he deftly carves to perfection through his business, Mike’s Carvings. Preferring to use Tupelo wood for his bird carvings, he perches them realistically creating everything from finches, chickadees, hawks and owls to ducks, loons, woodpeckers, and nuthatches, to name a few.
“There are more than 9,000 different kinds of birds in the world,” Mike observes. “And many people don’t realize just how many varieties live right here in our own area. For my carvings, I prefer making the more colorful ones.”
Using acrylics and brushes, he hand-paints each bird with rich, accurate details. His many birdfeeders around his house help him observe them in natural surroundings where he can home in on their habits, poses and mannerisms. He also relies on his local library to print out color photos he can work from.
Mike credits his father for helping him build his woodworking skills and fostering this interest since his father also carved and sold birds. He recalls his parents telling him that he always excelled in art.
Although Mike only appears in two art shows a year – one at the Naperville Settlement in Naperville, IL and the other at the Sandwich County fair, his year-round sales are generated by word-of-mouth. He doesn’t have a website but accepts custom orders by phone.
Mike estimates that making a small chickadee, from start to finish, takes about three weeks. Larger birds can take well over a month to complete. He visualizes the finished piece first in his head for posing the bird. He orders the feet and eyes from a carving supply house.
“I love meeting the people who stop by my booth during the fairs,” Mike sums up. “It’s especially cool to hear their compliments and say the birds look so real.”
For more information about his bird carvings, Mike can be reached at the following phone numbers: 331-725-6717 and 630-851-3124.
