The Ohio Artist Registry (OAR) is an exciting opportunity for artists to share their work, connect with the creative community, and establish an online presence—all on a free, virtual platform! The OAR encourages artists working in all art forms, throughout Ohio and beyond, to create a profile, which allows them to better promote themselves and their work. Being listed in the OAR provides artists with new opportunities to share their work with clients, galleries, patrons, and audiences. A listing in the OAR does not confer an endorsement, approval, or verification by the Ohio Arts Council.
For more information, contact Kathy Signorino, artist programs director, at kathy.signorino@oac.ohio.gov or 614-728-6140.
Tom Baldwin
Akron Ohio 44313 United States Home Phone: 330-310-1740 Birthday: August 4, 1954
Bio
A practicing artist since boyhood, Tom Baldwin began his career by hand-lettering signs and vehicles at age 13. He went on to own a sign business and frame shop, and at the same time began his long career as a bird carver. Tom is an master bird carver and amateur naturalist, earning many awards and honors at art competitions and exhibits. His focus is the bird in its natural surroundings: he uses materials such as tupelo wood, copper, brass, and bronze to create a narrative of the bird in a natural habitat with a seasonal and geographic context. Tom builds an awareness of environmental challenges into his carvings through the appearance of aging and rusting. In addition to bird carving, Tom has worked in one-dimensional mediums, such as pen and ink illustrations, graphite portraits, watercolor, as a designer for a home décor company, and as a political cartoonist for a weekly paper.
He recently won 2nd Best in the World, interpretive, at the 2017 Ward World Wildfowl Carving Championship, M & T Printing purchase award at the Canadian National Wildfowl Carving Championship, and has won back-to-back Best in Shows at the Wings and Water Festival, Award of excellence at the 2014 Kaleidoscope Holiday show, 1st place at the 2015 Kaleidoscope Holiday show, 1st place and people’s choice for 2025 Kaleidoscope Show, top 5 runner up for the Akron Art Prize 5 years in a row. Tom also received the best sculpture award at the 70th Annual Ohio Exhibition at the Zanesville Museum of Art and exhibited in the exclusive 2019 “Birds in Art” at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art museum in Wausau, Wisconsin.. Tom lives in Akron with his wife, Barbara, and their dog, Beanie..
Artist Statement
On vacation in 1985 in Chincoteague, Virginia, I was introduced to the indigenes American art of bird carving. Seeking time with the carving artists on the island, I have never looked back. I began the art of carving birds at that point. I have always enjoyed birds as an observer. Creating these creatures has been a joy that has enhanced my creative life. Having done many types of artistic disciplines, bird carving became the avenue of my direction and artistic dedication. After many years of working my art, now at retirement age I have the luxury of doing my work purely for pleasure. This now includes the joy of sharing what I know through teaching and mentoring to other artists.
What I love about bird carving is the requirement to represent every detail that exists in that particular bird. Using field observations, Natural History Museum bird collections, photos and video, I can create a clearer artwork for the viewer to understand and see. Drawing the bird or a pattern for the carving or sometimes a clay model to confirm ornithology accuracies are a common practice. Proper habitat is essential to accurately share this birds day in the life existence. When that is all done, then the artists is required to paint the color and markings relating to the bird subject. This art form involves artistry, science, biology and engineering. These disciplines are challenging and very enjoyable.