Randal Martin
Fine artist Randal Martin has received his fair share of publicity with reviews of artwork commissioned by Oak Ridge Boys legend William Lee Golden, the Road Dogs album cover for the Charlie Daniels Band, a recent Merle Haggard Christmas album, as well as artwork that now hangs in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. He won the Silver Brush Award from the Tullahoma, TN Fine Arts Festival, and was commissioned to create a limited edition of “The Earl” banjos for Gibson Bluegrass Guitars, with an original illustration of country music great Earl Scruggs likeness illustrated on the resonator of each individual banjo. One was displayed at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN as part of an Earl Scruggs tribute.
His first foray into the three-dimensional realm was carving Meerschaum pipes, after which he began working with clay, and created a series of Native American bronze busts. Just over eight years ago, he tried his hand at woodcarving and the results are stunning. So much so, that at the urging of a seminar teacher, he entered a Bluebird in the songbird category in the 2001 Tennessee Valley Fair in Knoxville, TN and won not only First Place, but Best Of Show in his class. Since that time, he has won ribbons and awards in every competition he has entered. In October of 2008, he entered a juried show in the Smokey Mountain area and won 2nd Best of Show, 14 ribbons, and had six carvings showcased in the exhibit of the top 25 carvings of the entire show. In April 2009, Randal entered the Ward World Carving Competition in Ocean City, Maryland, for the first time. He entered eight carvings and won 13 ribbons, including 3rd Best in Show in the novice class.
Randal now has completed more than 100 commissioned avian carvings for clients all over the United States and outside the country. He was commissioned to carve a red-tailed hawk for Billy Ray Cyrus, which was presented to him by his wife and children (including Hannah Montana…aka Miley Cyrus) for Father’s Day during Nashville’s annual Fan Fair celebration. An intricate Broad-tailed hummingbird carving was purchased and presented to the vice-president of Nippon Telephone and Telegraph Company (NTT), the single largest corporation in Japan in 2006. One of his greatest honors though, was being selected to carve a bluebird ornament for the White House Christmas tree during the “All Creatures Great and Small” seasonal theme. He and his wife were invited to attend the unveiling at the White House. www.wood-feathers.com
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