A peaceful picnic in the park is interrupted by
Unexpected Beasts
My creations are "Unexpected Beasts" for four reasons:
First is that they're mostly made of found-object wood, (branches, trunks, root balls, vines, etc.), that I discovered Unexpectedly.
Second, the Beasts have an Unexpected element to them, such as their size, color, form or attitude.
Third, they are gathered together, but are Unexpectedly different from each other, such as a Unicorn next to a Crocodile.
Lastly, the picnickers who were invaded by this gathering of Beasts found them extremely Unexpected, and left in a hurry!
Scroll down or click on each Beast to
read a description of each Beast, see the found-object that inspired it, view photos of the creative process, detail shots, and different angles, and learn more information
If you want to see the Unexpected Beasts in person, they are gathered inside
The Arts Marketplace, 121 Ionia SW, Ste 125, Grand Rapids MI 49503
https://artsmarketplacegr.com/
Available for viewing from September 12 - October 3, 2026
Unicorn
Stately and proud, he oversees the gathering of Beasts. The horn is a naturally twisted maple tree branch, and the head was carved from a white oak tree where two branches separated the trunk. There was a lot of carving dust…could it be magic dust? There’s a small vial of it next to him, should anyone care to test it.
Choosing and fitting roots for the Unicorn’s mane and forelock.
This is the found-object chunk of white oak that I used. My neighbor had rejected it as firewood because of the shape. I turned it upside down and carved the head from one side and the neck from the other.
While I was choosing the best, most twistedest branch for the horn, look who came walking in: the Giant Tortoise! Scroll down for his story.
Squid Squad
The official name for a group of squid is shoal, but squad is better. Each is carved and pieced from an entire tree trunk and root system. Glass and other treasures found by the squids decorate their bodies, which are trying to camouflage themselves in order to get close to you and perhaps add some new items to their collections. Missing keys, anyone?
Above are some of the found-objects which make up the three squids. Our barn cat (named “Cat”), who is looking at one of the found-objects, is the original Unexpected Beast because she followed me home a few years ago. Since then, she has faithfully patrolled my shop, and carefully inspected the work I do in there.
The largest squid is holding keys in a tentacle. If you think they’re yours, come down to the Arts Marketplace on Ionia Ave SW in Grand Rapids. Good luck getting them back.
The medium-sized squid has adorned itself with a bracelet that one of my children made years ago. I’m not sure how it got a hold of the bracelet…
Wild Boar
Carved from a found-object pine tree trunk section. Ready to take on any contenders with his scorched hide and menacing tusks. Descended from Sir Snort Tuskington III, this boar is as ferocious as he is unpredictable.
Butterfly
Her wings are carved from a found-object chunk of spalted maple and sealed with a clear coat to highlight the natural beauty. The top of each wing has an iridescent sheen, and the copper wire (recycled from old Christmas lights) that she’s used to strap her wings on complements that sparkle. Copper wire was also used for legs and antennae. She’s a well-connected butterfly and ready to step out on the town.
I found the spalted maple chunk inside a stump when I used my chainsaw to maintain our trails. It was roughly prism-shaped, and about 10 inches long. The beauty of the spalting and the natural dark edge of the wood nearest the bark brought the wings of a butterfly to mind. I cut a wedge out of the wood, creating a “V.” Then I painted a root to match the colors of the spalting and used repurposed copper wire for the rest of the butterfly.
Bald Eagle
Carved from apple wood where two branches separated, using a knothole in the wood, and burned. This bird may be missing part of a wing and a leg, but he’s still able to bring in the big fish.
This Bald Eagle was originally carved right on this apple tree where the branches reach up into the sky like a “V.” The two branches became two wings. The head and fish were carved from the knot in the wood between the branches. It had a large chipmunk nest behind the knothole, which became the space between the body and the fish (that’s why part of the right leg and wing are missing). The eagle stayed up there until we realized that the tree was falling apart at the base. So, it was cut from its lofty height and brought inside.
Hedgehog
Carved from a found-object spruce tree section. Oversize, adorable and wanting a hug, if you dare embrace those spines
Spruce tree trunk found-object, from deep in the woods, with plenty of spines (I mean, branches) poking out of it. All the bark needed to be stripped off. The Hedgehog’s face was carved with a chainsaw, then sanded smooth, and half-rounds of branch cross-sections were added as ears. Grooves were cut with a chainsaw into the wood between the spines to simulate other spines. Then the entire body was burned with a propane torch to get that rich dark color.
This Hedgehog really is oversize, measuring 26 inches long, and 23 inches tall at the tallest spine. It’s also a whopping 47 inches in diameter not including the spines! Even a casual hug would be a stretch, but so memorable.
Croc
Ancient, weathered and deadly, in spite of a missing eye and horrific dental work. Come close and admire the sleekness of his hide, but don’t be fooled by his stillness: that one eye is on you.
This is one Beast that hatched fully-formed, if you will, from the swampy areas of our woods. I Unexpectedly discovered this found-object section of a tree exactly as you see it here. Of course, it was a crocodile! That goes without saying. But I said it anyway to everyone who told me to leave that nasty thing in the muck.
After cleaning it and drying it out for several months, it was ready to receive my gentle touch as an amateur dentist. Deer antlers given by our neighbor became teeth. A small knothole became the socket for the left eye. I decided to leave the other socket open and dark, because when you’re a battle-scarred crocodile, a missing eye is simply a warning and a promise.
Twin Dryad Sprouts
Discovered inside a downed apple tree, side by side. There’s no need to whisper around these little ones: they are sleeping soundly in their cradle, snuggled in oak leaves and vines.
What is a Dryad Sprout?
Well, this is what I figure:
The found-objects were in this apple tree. When it was cut down, it revealed what looked like an embryo, complete with eyes, nose, mouth, arms and hands. Another slice produced a second one: its twin.
Trees are plants, and when plants are developing they are sometimes called sprouts.
Legend says that the spirits of trees are called Dryads, and they live in trees.
So, what would an embryo found in a tree be called? A Dryad Sprout!
I cleaned the debris off each Sprout, then used a little paint to highlight the eyes and ears. I carved oak leaves on the outside edges, painted the edges green and encircled them with vines from our vineyard. Several coats of gloss spray bring out the features of each Sprout.
Eastern Screech Owls
Mama is carved from a portion of the same found-object tree trunk that is hiding her four owlets, each carved from poplar branches. She doesn’t mind if you peek in at the owlets, who will peek back wide-eyed at you, but don’t touch: she’s watching.
This is the found-object tree trunk that inspired the idea of a family of Eastern Screech Owls. It was rather heavy, but I managed to wrestle it onto the bed of a vehicle to bring it back to my shop.
After debarking and cleaning it, it was time to attach a base since it was top-heavy. A fabulously interesting branch from my inventory completed the owls’ home.
Three owlets are snuggled in the largest hollow of the tree. Unexpectedly, a fourth owlet has chosen a smaller but higher hollow all to itself. It looks like that one is the mischief-maker of the family.
Brontosaurus
Carved from a found-object apple tree branch. He’s polite and quiet, which is probably why most people think his type is extinct. Feet and tail are curled up tight underneath. He has an expectant, sweet look on his face, wondering which of you will take him home
This found-object tree branch was about to be tossed onto a pile for the bonfire, but I wanted a dinosaur more than S’mores.
You can see the beautiful details of the grain and variations in color of the apple wood. A cherry wood base is attached to this Brontosaurus, making him extremely stable, just like his personality.
Giant Tortoise
Discovered in a forest in mid-Michigan, for the past 45 years this fellow has been patiently making his way to ArtPrize from the Galápagos Islands. The head, body and front legs are from one single found-object tree stump. The shell, which appears to have a compass on it, is from the heart of a walnut tree
This is the found-object chunk of wood, left over from when a tree was cut down, that inspired the Giant Tortoise. I had walked by it for years without really seeing it until, Unexpectedly, one day in summer of 2026, I saw the Beast. Now it’s obvious!
I cut it loose and brought it into my shop, where it sat and watched me put together the Unicorn.
The two back legs were chosen carefully from my inventory, and attached firmly. I think they perfectly represent the knobbly, clawed legs and feet of a real Giant Tortoise.
When I chainsawed a tree trunk for the shell, and began to carve it out, the shape of a compass appeared Unexpectedly. Perhaps that’s how this Giant Tortoise was able to navigate so well from the Galápagos Islands, but he’s not saying how exactly he used it.
Hermit Crab
This crab is not like any you’ve ever seen before! An entire found-object root ball with a burl creates the traveling house shell that he carries on his back. You can’t miss it when he comes to town, but pay attention because he won’t stay long: he dreams of seeing the world
Here is the found-object trunk, burl and root ball. I cut the trunk short and carved it into the head of the Hermit Crab.
Who knew managing six legs would be so difficult? I carved each leg from branches I found in my inventory, but it was Unexpectedly difficult to keep track of which leg attached where, and to ensure that the Hermit Crab could stand up by itself. The legs had to be the correct length, sturdy enough, and affixed to the body in such a way that they were slightly flexible but not wobbly. But, I did it. Be impressed.
Dragon
Dr. Frankenstein must have had something to do with this one: her body is walnut, legs and tail are spalted maple, wings are cherry wood, head is a poplar tree root, and each foot is a separate root ball. Gold ink was used to bring out her colors, and her tongue is copper. She has been flame-seared with a torch, as is fitting for a dragon. Just hatched and ferocious
The original found-object poplar tree root. I played with it long before it had a body, painting it with ink and adding teeth and a copper tongue.
The wings were fun to shape and carve from a found-object piece of cherry wood. The outside of the wings has naturally-occurring grooves along their lengths. I used a die grinder to create the texture on the insides.
The wings and body were burned separately from each other. You can clearly see the difference in color from one type of wood to another.
The spalted maple is really fascinating. The patterns are unique for each leg. Also unique are the root balls used for each clawed foot. Claws are painted in gold ink.
Wolf Spider
Huge, terrifying and fast. Each leg is a vine from a Virginia Creeper, and the body is a burl found on a walnut tree. A literal walking nightmare.
This is the found-object burl, growing out of a tree about 15-20 feet up the trunk. I first considered a moose head or a walrus. But then I looked over at the vines coming down and knew that it would have to be a spider.
Some close-ups of the burl. The paisley pattern on the top was completely Unexpected, but truly beautiful!
I’m really scared of spiders. Just sayin’. And this one is disturbingly large, standing at 23 inches tall. There were times when even I was wondering what I was thinking!
Note to all you who have read this far: I made a mistake: this is not from a walnut tree, it’s from an oak. I had already published the description of the Wolf Spider as coming from a walnut tree, so I had to continue on for posterity. But it’s annoying.
So now you know the truth. And you can feel smug for being In The Know.
About the Artist:
Becky has drawn and painted since she was little, including a large crayon masterpiece on her bedroom wall when she was four and supposed to be napping. Her love of drawing on the wall has continued, and her murals can be found in WA, MI, NC and Ontario. Her artwork can be found around the world, from reserves in northern Manitoba to villages in Papua New Guinea, and in the living rooms of discerning folks in the Netherlands.
Her favorite medium is pen and ink, followed closely by watercolors. She is both fascinated and challenged by their rigor and precision. She also works in acrylics, charcoal and pastels.
Becky's new-found love is carving with chainsaws! Tree stumps and large chunks of wood are transformed into a wide variety of creatures. She also loves to wander on her property in mid-Michigan, finding odd and wonderful natural treasures, which she drags back to her workshop to create found-object art.
My workshop is full of interesting wood pieces. I’ve catalogued them and stored them carefully, but my husband says I have a Stick Problem. I’m OK with this.
The shop got pretty messy while I was creating Unexpected Beasts. Cat was not impressed, but insisted on monitoring everything nonetheless.
Yes, I love our barn cat.
No, she would not be happy indoors.