S. Arthur Shoemaker is a graduate of Millersville University and Famous Artist’s School. He taught industrial arts for 32 years but has worked longer than that as a self-taught woodcarver. He is a juried member, past president, and craft show chairman of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.
His carvings reflect distinct humor and realism with intricate detail and a unique finish combining oil stain over acrylic and an application of paste wax. His wife, Nelda, helps with the painting. He prefers basswood and sugar pine. His designs are original, with special emphasis on animals, caricatures, and whimsical and historical renditions of Saint Nicholas.
Shoemaker created a carving for the White House Christmas tree, and his work has been shown in the regular and Christmas versions of the Directory of Traditional American Crafts since 1994, with one of his carvings appearing on the front cover in 2002. He contributes instructive articles on woodcarving to Wood Carving Illustrated magazine and has appeared as a featured woodcarver. He also appeared in the Reader’s Digest video “America the Beautiful.”
As a member of the Lancaster Moravian Church, he has carved more than 30 figures for the church putz, depicting the nativity story in 12 scenes. He believes in and works toward educating both adults and young people in woodcarving. He holds many awards, and his carvings are in several permanent museum collections as well as private collections all over the world.
S. Arthur Shoemaker has been selected for the following Directories:
2015 WOODWORKING
2009 HOLIDAY
2009 WOODCARVING
2008 SANTAS
2008 WOODCARVING
2007 SANTAS
2006 SANTAS
2006 WOODCARVING
2005 HOLIDAY
2005 WOODCARVING
2004 WOODCARVING
2003 WOOD
2002 CHRISTMAS
2002 WOOD
2001 WOOD
2000 WOOD
1999 WOOD
1998 WOOD
1997 WOOD
1996 WOOD
1995 WOOD
1994 WOOD
Biography updated October 3, 2016 Photograph updated October 3, 2016Contact information updated March 24, 2015
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If you are an artist and would like to participate in the 2019 Directory of Traditional American Crafts, you can obtain an application by clicking here. The deadline for applying to the 2019 Directory is January 15, 2019.
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