John Harlow, Jr.
Son of the Eastern Shore and master carver from Northampton County, John works out of his studio in Cheriton, Va. He is an avid naturalist and conservationist who began carving at the age of nine. During high school he attended mid-Atlantic bird carving competitions and then went on to earn a B.F.A. from the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design where he studied under notable guest artists Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock and famed photographer William Christenberry.
As John refined the genre of bird carving while at the Corcoran, his superb craftsmanship skills transitioned into fine art. He stands out in the current generation of carvers for creating imaginative narratives mining the character of each bird beyond the traditional decoy. As of late, he is enjoying his “Warholian” period producing oversized oysters and seahorses.
Through the years 1986 to 2011, John placed in the Ward World Championship winning the Lem & Steve Ward Smoothie, People’s Choice and Champagne series categories, and most recently in 2018, earned a 2nd place ribbon in the miniature fish category.
A kind, gentle soul with an adventurous spirit John translates his enthusiasm for life and the environment into all of his work including what you won’t find in a gallery. If he’s not out exploring the shore for buried treasure or secret coves with amazing sunset views, you can find him at home doing what he loves most in the world and that is creating the beauty of what he feels in his heart with his hands.
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