About the Artist

Larry Cornwell is a central Illinois artist who has emerged in regional and national competition as a highly successful wildlife, relief, and stylized wood sculptor. He was born and raised on a farm in West-central Illinois and as a result of his upbringing has developed a deep respect for the outdoors and wildlife. He started woodcarving in 1989 while studying under Jim Van De Veer. Although Larry started carving wildfowl, he has expanded his work to include realistic animals, relief and stylized carvings. 

From his training with such artists as Jim Van De Veer, Desiree Hajny and Kirt Curtis, he has developed techniques in researching his subjects to make the carvings as realistic and authentic as possible. His animal carvings are noted for their realistic faces and fur. He has also been influenced by David Bennett’s relief carving and J. Christopher White’s stylized carving.

Larry has been very successful in the art and woodcarving competition throughout the Midwest. He has won several "Best of Show", "Carvers Choice", and "Peoples Choice" awards. He has won blue ribbons in almost every show entered in many different categories.

"When I first started entering woodcarving competitions, I set two goals for myself. I wanted to have my carvings appear in the woodcarving publication, Chipchats, and I wanted to win a blue ribbon at the International Woodcarvers Congress sponsored by the Affiliated Wood Carvers, AWC, and held every June in Davenport, Iowa." Larry started having pictures appear in Chipchats on a regular basis since June 1993. In June, 1995 Larry received two first place ribbons at the IWC for a stylized eagle and a stylized sunfish. "Now I need to set some new goals."

Larry’s work has appeared in many galleries located in Durango, Colorado; Silver Dollar City, Missouri; Oak Brook, Illinois; Door County, Wisconsin; Custer, South Dakota; Peoria, Illinois and Macomb, Illinois.

In 1997 John Hagensick invited Larry to write an article about airbrushing of a rose. This article appeared in the July-August edition of Chipchats. Larry was also invited to teach classes on airbrushing at the International Woodcarvers Congress in June 1997 & 1998.

In the spring of 1997 Larry was elected to the Board of Directors of the Affiliated Wood Carvers, Ltd.  He served on that Board for 8 years.

During the summer of 2004, Larry was commissioned to carve an angel holding a child for the Children's Hospital of Illinois.  The 54" by 54" carving can be  found in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital located in Peoria, IL.

Larry retired from Bradley University in 2005.  He was formerly a Professor of Business Management and Administration at Bradley in Peoria, IL where he taught in the Business Computer Systems curriculum. 

Email at rockcreekcarvings

Last edited by Larry W. Cornwell on March 04, 2008 .