These carvings have been created by Donna and Clair Christensen over the last ten years. Nature creates the shapes we look for in the raw log, branch, burl or bark for a carving; the unique wood grain that forms feathering, an inquisitive tilt of the head, and other enhancements to the body. All of our carvings have the extra artistic brush provided by nature.

Most of the materials have been collected in Northwest Montana, from the drainages of the Kootenai, Yaak, and Fisher Rivers; with some driftwood gathered from the Pacific Ocean. Species used have included Pacific Redwood Cedar, Western White Cedar, Larch, Douglas Fir, Yellow Pine, Lodgepole Pine, Western Alder, Cotton Wood, Hawthorn Berry, and Juniper, along with various roots, driftwood, and wild brush. No green wood is ever used, most has dried naturally in the forest.

The carving and painting are a collaboration of the team we call Nature's-Plan Carvers. Donna does all the painting and Clair does the rough out. They both carve and detail the final product. Everything is carved - feet, bills, fins, flippers - everything.

Some of the carvings are a likeness to a few of the famous old decoys. We have used our local wood and our sense of color to depict the old decoys with our own style of painting and carving. We have never tried to duplicate in absolute detail the subject of a carving and we have a number that are very abstract where the carving is primarily to show the beauty and form of the wood.

Both Donna and Clair have a long history in the arts. Donna has been painting in oil, acrylic, and water color for more than 40 years. Clair studied art in high school and university and has been painting, pencil sketching, and carving most of his life. Both are retired from other occupations and for enjoyment have completed well over 100 carvings, mostly during the long cold winters of Northwest Montana.

Additional information on any individual carving can be provided on request.