Hand Whittled and Painted White-Breasted Nuthatch mounted on driftwood with label and signed by Helen Lay Strong 1977. Entire piece measures approximately 4 tall by 2-1/2 wide. The bird measures approximately 2-1/4 long. Helen Lay Strong left behind a legacy as an extraordinary miniature wildfowl carver. She passed away in 1995, but her work is as influential today as ever. Helen Lay Strong first showed an affinity for the arts at the young age of 6. This talent later prompted her mother to allow Helen to attend art school at Cooper Union College in New York City. After a year, Helen dropped out of school to form a marionette group that used wooden puppets she carved. She attempted to return to college at Munson William Proctor Institute in Utica, NY, but eventually dropped out in order to help her sick father run the farm. In the 1960s, Helen set out on her own, and attempted to sell her work to department stores around the city. When the stores expressed their disinterest in her work, Helen began to sell her work directly to collectors at crafts fairs or wood carving shows. She studied books and stuffed specimens to create realistic hand painted bird carvings that were often displayed on pieces of driftwood or rocks. Helen recorded her carvings by creating a detailed watercolor painting of each of her works. She often intentionally made her carvings disproportioned by making them either smaller or larger than they would be realistically. The bases of her carvings are just as artistically creative and challenging as the birds themselves. She diligently carve small pieces of seashells and wood to resemble logs and stones. Throughout her career, Helen Lay Strongs works have remained highly sought after for her detailed paintwork. The item “Vintage White-Breasted Nuthatch Mini Bird Carving Signed Helen Lay Strong 1977″ is in sale since Tuesday, April 6, 2021. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Animals\Birds\Other Bird Collectibles”. The seller is “jennypoo1″ and is located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Handmade: Yes
- Modified Item: No
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Material: Wood
- Animal Class: Bird
- Type: Figurine