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Bio
    
         Born in 1967, Chad Turner is a native Floridian and from an early age has been drawn to water and was swimming before he could walk.  Growing up on a lake in Central Florida; his mother made sure of this.  The desire to be in the water, on the water, or around the water is due in no small part to his parents; his mother an expert swimmer, diver, and water skier and his father a highly regarded birding authority throughout the U.S.  By the age of six, he was water skiing and going on birding adventures with his father that covered the state of Florida from coast to coast, panhandle to the Everglades.  As a child, Chad also enjoyed fishing and snorkeling around the docks of the lake he grew up on and hand feeding muscles to the sunfish or snorkeling the shallows of the Florida Keys or Sanibel Island looking for shells with his sister and grandmother (who was also the recipient of the Dupont Trophy for her work as curator of shells at the John Young Museum in Orlando, Florida).  Naturally, this led to scuba diving and trips with friends and family to dive the coral reefs of the Florida Keys for lobster or to the springs of Central and North Florida were common.  Chad also enjoys fishing the freshwater lakes of Florida or the flats of Mosquito Lagoon and Cedar Key, to the abundant marine species the state has to offer.  Even fishing off of oil rigs for big Cobia in the Gulf of Mexico when he worked offshore.   



        In 1993 Chad relocated to Sturgeon Bay, WI where he excelled in the art of taxidermy and became increasingly familiar with animal anatomy.  In his spare time he enjoyed Wisconsin fishing for the abundant and variety of warm and cold water fish.  Chad also continued birding and began new outdoor pursuits in wildlife and landscape photography and bow hunting.  However, he was missing home and in 2005 he moved back to Florida and now focuses his attention solely in the art of wood carving.  The combination of his life experiences and having formally studied art, drawing, marine biology, and oceanography leads to very accurate and thoughtful interpretations.




Achievements

2011
2011- 1st Place Open Advanced- Spawning Golden Trout- Ridge Woodcarvers 19th Annual Art of Woodcarving Show
2011- 1st Runner-up Best In Show- Spawning Golden Trout- Ridge Woodcarvers 19th Annual Art of Woodcarving Show
2011- 2nd Place Open Advanced- Largemouth Bass & Crawfish- Ridge Woodcarvers 19th Annual Art of Woodcarving Show
2011- 1st Place Masters Division Fish- Largemouth Bass & Crawfish- Florida Winter National Wood Art Expo & Competition
2010
2010- Featured Artist- March 2010 "Artists Spotlight" Coastal Angler Magazine
2010- Two-Time Featured Artist- Yahoo Group Fishcarving2
2010- 1st Place Open Advanced- Redfish- Ridge Woodcarvers 18th Annual Art of Woodcarving Show
2010- 1st Runner-up State Championship Advanced, Fish-Redfish-Indian River Woodcarvers 2nd Annual Art & Sculpture Show
2010- Best In Division Advanced, Aquatic- Redfish- Indian River Woodcarvers 2nd Annual Art & Sculpture Show
2010- Achievement Award Advanced- Emporer Angelfish- Indian River Woodcarvers 2nd Annual Art & Sculpture Show
2010- Best In Show Intermediate- Redfish- Treasure Coast Woodcarvers 26th Annual Show
2010- 1st Place Intermediate, Fish- Redfish- Treasure Coast Woodcarvers 26th Annual Show
2010- Best In Show Novice- Redfish- Florida Winter National Wood Art Expo & Competition
2010- 1st Place Novice, Fish- Redfish- Florida Winter National Wood Art Expo & Competition
Content copyright . Wildlife Art by Chad Turner. All rights reserved.