Welcome to
The ART of WOODCARVING!

Cecily Bishop Master Carver

What I'm All About

My love of carving began in 1980 on Guam, where I lived for 25 years and became a student of Master Carver Robert Taitano. I was urged to take a seat on the sand next to some very talented native Palauan Carvers who chewed Beetle nut and spoke little English.  So sit I did, for quite a few years in my free time, while they taught me how to carve Micronesian Storyboards. Over the years I’ve studied with Master Carvers from Guam, Micronesia, Ireland and the Pacific Northwest. I spent 15 years with the late Master Carver Jim Ploegman Sr., (the adopted grandson of “Grandma” Beatrice Black, the matriarch of the Quinault Tribe) who taught me what he knew about Northwest Coast Art and how to create and carve “form line” designs. After Jim’s passing, I taught all styles of woodcarving on a full time basis for 7 years at the Masters Carving School in Renton.  In 2021, I started my own teaching studio called: “Woodcarving with Cecily Bishop, Master Carver”, in Kent.

My grandmother was Cherokee and my grandfather was Creek Indian. I’m also a direct descendant of “Chief Red Bird”; Tsalagi’ Ugvwiyuhi Totsu’hwa (Moytoy) 1721-1820.  He was a proud Cherokee, who was Chief of the Ani Wadi Clan. He was my sixth Grandfather, known to immigrants as Aaron Brock, a recorded treaty signer. The Red Bird River (a tributary of the Red River) in Kentucky is named in honor of him.  His father was Chief Willenawah Great Eagle (Moytoy) Reuben Brock 1680-1721. His mother was Adi Wadi Willenawahi, "she who carries the sun", a full blooded Cherokee, known to immigrants as Christian Page Carpenter 1714-1752.

In May of 2016, I was honored to be selected to represent Guam, as a visual arts; “Diaspora Delegate” during the Festival of the Pacific Arts.  It was the first time in 30 years that Guam hosted cultural representatives of 27 Pacific Island Nations for a two week long festival of culture and arts, where my work was displayed in the newly built Guam Museum.  I was a member of the visual arts staff who set up the artists museum displays for the event.

The current spectrum of my carving work includes Northwest Coast Style masks, paddles, war helmets, rattles, bowls, plaques, as well as contemporary art carvings and Pacific Islander influenced artworks. My designs are exclusively my own, however my NW Coast Style work and teachings are respectfully based on the principles of “NW Coast Formline” from the perspective of artists and historians, Bill Holm and Bill Reid, whose published interpretations are widely supported by first nation’s people in this region.

My goal in creating each piece is to thoroughly enjoy the intimidating process of convincing a piece of wood that it needs to turn into a unique and mystical piece of art, ultimately to be interpreted by the beholder.        

Throughout the years, I have won numerous awards for my carvings through nationally recognized wood carving associations and juried shows in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, I’ve gone as far as I can go in their carving spectrum, which in their eyes would give me the subjective title of Master Carver. Which just means I’ve found solutions to more mistakes in over 40 years, than most carvers would even think of trying.   I’ve learned much in the process, sometimes the hard way. Some of my work is for sale.  

I also welcome commission work, should you have something special in mind.