Scott Schuldt

Hand-carved canoe paddles

Exploring by canoe, the canoe paddle is the primary hand tool of my work. My paddles are traditional long blade paddles. I carve each one by hand and add designs with acrylic paint. Maps figure heavily in the designs, but geometric figures, science and politics also appear. I use a wide variety of wood including walnut, cherry, spruce, cedar, maple and poplar. Most paddles are finished with linseed oil with varnish being used occasionally. Every paddle is used at least once before being displayed or sold, because a canoe paddle isn't a canoe paddle until it has been in the water.