“Roaring Grizzly Bear” black and white scrimshaw on ancient mammoth tusk ivory bark by David Adams. Ill tempered grizzly is upset about something or someone. Best to get out of his way, pronto. This powerful work seems to jump off the ivory. For wildlife and bear collectors this one is a rare find. Great, solid piece of mammoth bark completes the picture.
“Fox Family” color scrimshaw on ancient mammoth tusk ivory bark by David Adams. Wildlife scrimshaw collectors will get a fine work with this charming Adams effort. Really interesting piece of mammoth bark with just the right amount of workable ivory for this outstanding work by Adams, probably the best wildlife scrimshander working today. A winner!
“Bobcat Kitten” color scrimshaw on ancient mammoth tusk ivory bark by David Adams. No scrimshander is better at wildlife than Adams is today. It seems that every piece he creates has something special about it. He just keeps getting better and better. Great piece of ivory for this gem, by the the way.
“Leo Reigns Supreme” color scrimshaw on ancient mammoth tusk ivory bark by David Adams. Venerable lion has an expression that says he has seen it all. Probably true and no one would doubt the king of the jungle at this point in his life. Adams really nails it with this one. Love the way the shadows fall on the mane and face. He sets it off with a light background of blue stipple. Masterful touch, indeed. This is done on a very thick piece of first rate mammoth ivory. Great work by one of the best working today.
“Winter Wolf Hunting” black and white scrimshaw on ancient mammoth tusk bark by David Adams. Stealthy hunting wolf portrayed in snow clad forest, alert and hungry. Adams is just brilliant using the natural tones of the mammoth ivory white contrasted with the black tones of the wolf and background detail. This is what black and white scrimshaw should be. Really amazing composition here.
“Patient Leo and Cub” black and white scrishaw on ancient mammoth ivory bark by David Adams. Patient male lion seems to be enduring the cub’s play. Hard to say just how long it will be before the curious cub gets a slap and snarl. Most parents can identify. Adams subtle shading and stipple work are just outstanding on this one. Nice thick piece of mammoth on handsome stand completes the picture.
“Wolf in Winter” color scrimshaw on ancient walrus tusk ivory by David Adams. Wolf carefully stalks an unseen prey after heavy winter snowfall. A badger, hidden in his burrow, watches. The shading of the snow on the branches is simply amazing. One can feel the extreme cold and almost hear the rippling water in the stream. Note how Adams has worked the distant forest in the background. Wildlife scrimshaw does not get any better than this. Primo heavy chunk of ancient walrus tusk ivory completes the picture.
“Polar Bear in Mist” black and white scrimshaw on ancient mammoth tusk ivory by David Adams. Perfect example of contrast between the white of the ivory and the darker shades of the polar bear. Anyone studying scrimshaw technique should know this is what one aspires to achieve some day. That day is here for scrimshander, Adams.
“Eating Crow” black and white scrimshaw on ancient mammoth ivory tusk ivory by David Adams. Not the usual meaning of eating crow. Love the composition of this piece. Knowing what to leave out of a scene is difficult for some artists, but not Adams. Just a hint of a body and a couple of falling feathers tells us all we need to know about the final outcome. This is a beautiful piece of mammoth ivory, by the way.
“Bengal Mother and Cub” color scrimshaw on ancient mammoth ivory bark by David Adams. Cub wants to play or get fed while mom appears to want a bit of solitude. Most parents know the feeling. The window in the bark provides a natural frame. Very nice work.