Randy Coleman

Randy Coleman, a self-taught artist, has been influenced both by his mother's artistic endeavors as a watercolor artist and his wife's encouragement. He attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, acquiring a BBA in Marketing. Before he began to create the hand-carved eggs, he worked in corporate environments in oil and gas exploration, financial securities, and mortgage banking.

He has shown at:

• Safari Club International
• The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep
• C.N. Russell Western Art Show and Auction
• Museum of the Rockies
• San Francisco International Gift Show
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
• Jackson Hold Wildlife Museum

His carvings have been given to the wives of twelve foreign dignitaries.

About his work Randy says,

Before I started carving eggs, I was using a high-speed turbine (400,000-rpm) with carbide and diamond bits, mainly to carve wood items such as plaques and plates. My wife suggested that I try to carve an egg and a neighbor furnished me with a duck egg to get me started. I carved circles on the whole egg and was amazed that the lacey looking egg didn't break or fall apart when I finished. From that moment, I knew that I was "wired" to carve eggs.

Since that first duck egg, I have expanded my artistic endeavors with eggs by using non-fertile goose, rhea, emu and ostrich eggs. The instrument I use on the eggs is a high-speed turbine powered by air. The high speed allows me to carve through the egg shell or to use a cameo technique that makes the most of the multi-colored layers of the emu and ostrich eggs to create life-like artistic expressions. Relief carving which allows me to meticulously detail the subject matter, requires the right amount of pressure. If I apply too much pressure, I get to start all over.

However, after carving for over 8 years, almost every egg that I start ends up in the hands of a collector. Early on, I experienced the stress of a surgeon performing an operation when I was carving. Now, I find it very relaxing to sit down and create unique pieces of egg art. Most anything that can be painted on canvas can also be carved into an egg but I am mainly inspired by wildlife of any kind, Native American themes and some contemporary forms. All of the stands have been designed by my wife both to flow with the artwork and to keep the eggs displayed safely.