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Patrick R. Godin
B.Sc., M.Sc. AFC
Birds, Waterfowl |
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A childhood fascination with the natural world inspired Pat Godin to carve his first bird in 1967. He continued to carve in those early years solely for his own pleasure. In the early '70's Pat became aware of several competitive exhibitions of decorative duck decoys and other wooden bird sculpture. After meeting other enthusiastic bird carvers and picking up a lot of ideas and technical tips his work quickly became competitive at the "World Class" level of competition. Since his bird carving career began Pat Godin has gained international recognition for his fine, accurate renditions of wildfowl as well as for the creative vision present in his pieces
With a formal background in wildlife biology and ornithology it is no accident that his work exhibits not only accuracy in form and color, but also radiates the life of a real bird. Throughout the years of 1972 to 1979 Pat studied at the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario and acquired an Honors B.Sc. degree in Wildlife Biology as well as M.Sc. degree by conducting research on Mallard ecology. In addition to acting as an undergraduate ornithology instructor, he also worked extensively with waterfowl and other species of birds while engaged with the Canadian Wildlife Service. Pat also was accepted as a research assistant at the Delta Waterfowl Research Station in Manitoba, Canada in 1976 where he helped graduate students conducting various studies on Redhead Ducks, Wigeons, Mallards, and the Western Grebe.
In 1976 an innovative pair of Common Goldeneyes carved by Pat was judged "Best in World", beginning a string of twelve World Championship titles. These include subsequent World Championships in 1980, 1984, 2008 and 2009 in "Decorative Decoy Pairs" and in 1982 and 1995 in "Decorative Lifesize Wildfowl Sculpture". An interest in the grouse species of North America provided an inspiration to begin a series of miniature scale carvings (1/3 life size) featuring the males of these species performing their mating displays. Pat was awarded World Championships in the Miniature category in 1999 (Ruffed Grouse), 2001 (Spruce Grouse), 2002 (Greater Prairie Chicken) and in 2011 with another sculpture of a Greater Prairie Chicken . Also in 2001 he was awarded a World title in the very competitive World Shootin' Rig featuring a pair of Black Ducks and a drake Mallard-Black Duck Hybrid. Many other awards include "Best of Shows" at the Canadian Open Wildfowl Carving Competition, Toronto, the Gulf South Carving Competition, New Orleans, the California Open Carving Competition, San Diego, the Pacific Flyway Competition, Sacramento, the North American Wildfowl Carving Competition, Detroit, and the Northern Nationals Wildfowl Carving Competition, Minneapolis. Work by Pat Godin can be found in the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury, Maryland and in many private collections and has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. The prestigious "Birds in Art" exhibiton held at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin has featured Pat Godin's work for ten years. In 1993 Pat was invited to represent North American carvers at the opening of the International Bird Carving Exhibtion in Yokohama, Japan. Although competitions have provided some of the inspiration for Pat's work, his deepest concern has always been with the cultivation of bird sculpture as an art form.
Recently in April 2011 Pat Godin was awarded his twelfth World Championship title with his entry of a Greater Prairie Chicken carved at a 1/3 life size scale entitled "Battle on the Lek".
Over the years Pat has become respected as a writer and lecturer. Through seminars and workshops he communicates new techniques as well as the philosophy behind his art. Pat Godin also wrote, illustrated, designed and published three instructional books for bird carvers (Championship Waterfowl Patterns, Volumes One, Two, and Three). Recently he collaborated with Stackpole Books by illustrating and providing text for Reference Guide: Waterfowl II.
In November 1994 Pat Godin was inducted into the Waterfowl Festival Hall of Fame, Easton Maryland. His home city of Brantford honoured Pat in 2001 by inducting him into the Brantford Walk of Fame along with such notable individuals as Wayne Gretzky and Alexander Graham Bell. He currently resides with his wife Jessica and three children, Jim, Ben, and Emilie in the country near Paris, Ontario.
b. 1953
Resides: Paris, Ontario, Canada
Education: B.Sc. Wildlife Biology, M.Sc. Waterfowl Ecology, U. of Guelph
Major Fields of Study: Ornithology
Artistic Specialization: Birds, Waterfowl
Commissions: Accepted
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Support for Conservation:
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Special Achievements:
- 1994 - Waterfowl Festival Hall of Fame
In November 1994 Pat Godin was inducted into the Waterfowl Festival Hall of Fame, Easton Maryland.
World Championship titles in 1976, 1980, 1984, 2008, and 2009 in Decorative Decoy Pairs.
World Championship titles in 1982 and 1995 in Decorative Lifesize Wildfowl Sculpture.
World Championship titles in 1999, 2001, and 2002 in Decorative Miniature Wildfowl Sculpture.
World Chamionship title in 2001 in World Shootin' Rig category.
Collections:
- Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art
plus many private collections
Publications:
- Championship Waterfowl Patterns, Vols 1,2,3, and 4
author, illustrator -
Author: Pat Godin
- Waterfowl II
illustrator - Reference Guide
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Direct Correspondence to:
Patrick Godin
c/o Godin Art Inc.
352 German School Rd., RR1
Paris, Ontario
Canada N3L 3E1
Tel: (519) 448-1244
Fax: (519) 448-1302
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Email: pat@godinart.com
Home Page: http://www.GodinArt.com
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