An artist inspired by wildlife

John Carro’s ‘doing something right’

By Adriana Serafino | Manor Ink

The vast variety of wildlife in the Catskills is a source of inspiration for artists. Going into local stores, you might have seen some of the work by the artist John Carro, who goes by WrenWoodArts on social media and is well known for his replicas of the region’s famous fish.

“It was upon getting a home in Livingston Manor in 1990 that my connection to trout began. As you know, we live in a trout-centric region. I took up fly fishing, but more importantly to my profession, my wife and I started collecting vintage trout art and memorabilia,” said Carro.

The name of WrenWood Arts is one that John’s family gave their property after they placed dozens of birdhouses that had been built from recycled barn boards on the posts of their picket fence. That first summer in 1990, and ever since, numerous families of wrens have gathered there, which is the inspiration for the name.

“My favorite part of being an artist is that I am creating works purely as I want them,” Carro explained. “I just love making them and selling them, so I can justify making even more. The fact that people in the area have responded so well is so gratifying.”

More recently, Carro has been working with hemlock and spruce wood for his carvings. He starts with a plank of the wood and looks for the different grain patterns to use in the piece. Incorporating the grain of the wood into the design gives the carving a playful feel of the actual skin texture of the trout.

“I often incorporate the graining into the finished piece. Swirls in the grain, raised growth lines, indentations and knots all are taken into account when applying paint,” said Carro.

The style for most of his wildlife sculptures and wall hangings is similar to that of pop art. His trout silhouettes stand out because of the bright acrylic paint colors that Carro uses, making his otherworldly trout come to life.

“One of my favorite events is the Livingston Manor Trout Parade. Naturally, I exhibit during the event as a vendor. The joy people seem to genuinely have at seeing my pieces is inspiring. If the art makes people smile, then I believe I must be doing something right,” said Carro.

If you’re interested in learning more about John Carro’s work, visit instagram.com/wrenwoodarts.