Wilbur Craig is one of America’s most unique and talented artists, creating a distinct niche in the art world. He turns make-believe into action, otherwise known as “Wooden Art In Motion”. Wilbur magically transforms planks of wood into miniature automobiles, tractors, airplanes, bulldozers, rifles, and much more; all have moving parts and can be disassembled. Wilbur’s works are created from memory, photograph, or by sight. He is able to do this without drawings, ‘to scale’ measurements, calculations, ‘tool and die’, precision instruments, or lathe. He uses only a band saw, belt sander, scroll saw, and an occasional ruler measurement.
Wilbur simply starts working with the wood and continues until it is completed. Each art piece is 100% wood and many have well over 1,000 parts, each made to a precision fit by hand. They fit so well that no holding devices are necessary and they will not come apart without gentle persuasion and in the proper sequence. He uses no nails, screws, strings, or wire. Consequently each art piece can be completely disassembled to the frame.
He doesn’t use any devices to prepare for or check wheel spoke spacing, nor for wheels being round. It is done by sight and his tires (made separate) fit like a glove. A few of his other attributes are steering wheels that turn the wheels, engines (with moving pistons and crankshafts) that can be dismantled and reassembled, and moving bulldozer and grader blades under control of a lever near the drivers seat. These feats were accomplished using only wood. This is not carving.
A jet airplane that was created from a photograph was sold for $7,500 to the owner of the airplane. He recently sold a tractor with a working disc and some small items for $4,500 to a worldwide collector of toy tractors from Kansas.
A woman in Salt Lake City, Utah, purchased a D8 Bulldozer from Wilbur and her cat later knocked it off the fireplace mantle causing some damage. She contacted Wilbur, who agreed to repair it. He disassembled it, rebuilt the broken parts, and reassembled it for her.
Wilbur's 6 foot long steam locomotive, "Big Boy," is on exhibition at the Cheyenne, Wyoming Depot Museum. It has approximately 8,000 parts and was created from photographs of the real locomotive sitting in the Cheyenne railroad yard. Many parts move and it can be taken apart and reassembled.
Three actors own a Jeep made by Wilbur -- Tim Conway, Earnest Borgnine, and Chuck Norris.
Wilbur's talent was noticed as a teenager, but wasn’t fully used until 12 years ago after he and his wife, Jane, sold their business. He has received recognition at Cheyenne art show competitions.
Wilbur has over 50 items on display in his studio. You must see it to believe it!
©2004 Woodern Art In Motion&Wilbur Craig
