Artist in Residence: Ted Richmond
We welcome our Artist in Residence to the Cody Country Art League.
Ted has carved fish since 1996 when he began to combine his lifelong interest in fishing and art, by bringing nature indoors through his fishcarvings. Whether he sculpts naturally found wood or a block of tupelo that is sawn on a bandsaw he loves to bring the feeling of the catch or the beauty of a Rocky Mountain trout to the fore by his own hand. “When the eyes go in, the soul of the fish or other animal comes to life and I love to see the expression of the people who appreciate the fish or other creatures. Recreating the excitement of God’s creation for lasting viewing captivates my imagination and drives my creativity.”
Ted uses airbrushed and hand brushed acrylic paints, tupelo, as well as hard and softwood to create realistic life sized sculptures of fish and their habitat as well as raptors and other creatures.
His artistic development centered around woodcarving influences, involvement, and a willingness to have his worked critiqued by judges at shows around the U.S. After membership in the St. Louis, MO and Wichita,KS wood carving clubs he moved to the Kansas City area where he and his wife Terri lived until 2020 when he retired and moved to Cody WY. He has been past President of the Wichita and Kansas City woodcarver’s clubs and was a frequent competitor in woodcarving shows. He has earned Best of Show honors with his fish sculptures in shows in Topeka, KS, Wichita, KS, Grapevine, TX, Rogers AR, and Kansas City, MO. He has competed internationally earning multiple Aquatic Group honors and the People’s Choice Award in 1999 at the National Woodcarving Congress with artists from over 20 countries competing for prizes. Ted earned Second in Interpretive carving for fish at the prestigious Ward Foundation shows in 2001 and 2003, and more recently he has earned Best in World honors at Breakthrough Magazine’s World Taxidermy and Fish Carving Championships in the division of Open Level Natural Finish in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017, and 2024 as well as Best in Show Overall in 2017 with “Home Delivery”. Locally Ted has earned first place finishes at the CodyArts Annual show in woodcarving category in 2023,2024, and 2025. Additional honors in 2025 were awarded to Ted for his “Westslope Cutthroat” in the form of the Fern Bath award.
Ted’s work may be seen at Cody Arts in Cody, WY; Northfork Anglers Fly Shop in Cody, WY and on Instagram at @ted.fishcarver