Richard Reeves
Richard Reeves is an internationally acclaimed wildlife artist and master woodcarver based in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Over a dedicated carving career spanning several decades, he has earned three world championships, three world masters championships, seven North American championships, and more than 100 Best of Show honors across every major competition in the country. Working from his studio overlooking a quiet lake north of Covington, Richard meticulously transforms raw blocks of tupelo gum into vivid, lifelike depictions of wild birds and waterfowl.
Before pursuing wild bird sculpture full-time, Richard served 33 years with the New Orleans Police Department, rising through the ranks from patrolman to major and executive officer. Searching for a creative, grounding outlet amid a demanding law enforcement career, he discovered wildfowl carving in the late 1970s after attending an exhibition hosted by the Louisiana Wildfowl Carvers and Collectors Guild. What started with a simple pocketknife and a gift of professional carving tools from his wife, Kathleen, quickly transformed into a lifelong calling driven by meticulous craft, rigorous study, and a deep reverence for nature.
Richard’s signature approach pairs fine anatomical precision with extensive historical and biological research. Whether capturing local wetland species or re-creating historically significant, extinct subjects like the Carolina parakeet, he studies museum specimens, archival paintings, and anatomical dimensions before committing blade to wood. Each piece is hand-carved, detailed feather by feather, and finished with layered paints that mirror the bird’s natural vibrancy and subtle textures. Beyond his bench, Richard has long served the woodcarving community, including seven terms as president of the Louisiana Wildfowl Carvers and Collectors Guild, helping preserve and advance this distinctly North American art form.