About the Artist:z

Don Woodard is an artist with a unique ability to hand carve extremely detailed relief scenes and events from select woods. The western scenes depicted in his wood carvings are influenced by events that he has experienced first hand, either during horse pack adventures through the majestic Rocky Mountains or on various ranches. Raised in Colorado since 1959 he has traveled throughout the west and loves the western lifestyle. Don enjoys horseback riding and bringing friends into the mountains.

He became interested in wood carving over 25 years ago after visiting a carving studio in Silver Dollar City, MO while on vacation. Although he purchased his first set of carving tools shortly thereafter, he didn't begin serious carving until approximately 1997.

Although carving started as only a hobby, it didn't take long to realize that a natural talent had been laying dormant for most of his life. The response to his carvings made Don explore a means to reproduce select carvings, to be able to provide his work to a broader range of people and price ranges. Consequently, the Bronzewood reproduction process was discovered.

His background includes 28 years of owning and operating a trade show exhibit company as well as a commercial and architectural sign company. He studied art and architecture at both the University of Colorado and the University of Hawaii. He does sign his woodcarvings as "Moke", a nickname he acquired in Hawaii (and the name many of his friends still call him today).

Prior to founding his exhibit and sign companies, he was a NASCAR driver and competed in races successfully throughout the country.

Don has been married to Carol since 1973. They enjoy spending time with their two grown children, Kelli and Corey, as well as the family dogs, Max and Nakita.