McMurdo_Panel I am always challenging myself to develop a greater understanding of wildfowl. Once I've decided on the attitude and posture of a bird - alert, restful, aggressive, etc. - it is very important to carry the theme throughout the sculpture, from the eyes to the tail feathers, to impart a lifelike, soft appearance. When viewers remark on the "expressions" in my sculptures, I feel I have communicated my passion and appreciation of wildfowl. Glenn A. McMurdo World Champion Wildfowl Sculptor At the 2012 Ward World Carving Championships, Cobourg resident Glenn McMurdo achieved the level of Master Carver, a well deserved and hard won honour. Common Mersanger Hen It was only after being certified as both a plumber and steamfitter, and working for many years with Eldorado in Port Hope, that Glenn McMurdo tried his hand at carving. It was back in 1986 when a brief night time class hooked him. Within three years he was making his living as a full-time carver and hasn't looked back since. He sculpts songbirds and birds of prey as well as his primary interest, waterfowl. "It was a passion, so I just learned how to do it," he says. And that passion has turned into over 500 awards throughout the world including 3rd Best in World Class Pairs and numerous Best in Shows. Part of being a self-taught carver means extensive and ongoing research into his subject area. So Glenn travels throughout Canada and the U.S., observing and photographing, for later reference, the habits of migratory waterfowl. He also collects bird feathers and skins and painstakingly reads biology and anatomy reference books, all in an effort to increase his own familiarity with his beloved subject matter. Glenn is so dedicated to the knowledge of his subjects that he purchased a wetland near Warkworth in south central Ontario to spend time becoming familiar with birds in their various attitudes. That attention to detail is continued in the rest of his carving process - developing detailed patterns, clay models, and using high-quality tupelo wood, a favourite for carvers of wildfowl, and acrylic paints for the perfect finish. Much of Glenn's recent travels have been to judge other carvers' work and teach at seminars throughout North America. However, he acknowledges that he's always learning himself. Regarding a recent commission of Heathrow, the Great Blue Heron, he says, "I thought I knew what a heron looked like, but I learned so much. It was unbelievable." Heathrow Northern Shoveler Hen and Drake