Sherry Klein is the Coastal Carvers featured Artist for 2025

After our second son was born, I needed to get out of the house for a break.  I found a painting class and started Tole painting in 1975.  I painted for a number of years and was at a painting convention when I saw a woman showing a carved Noah’s Ark.  She was advertising carving classes that were going to be starting in painting studios around the state and in Washington.  I decided to give it a try that was in 1991.  I loved it. 

I carved for a couple of years and then heard about Will Hayden in Vancouver Wa. I started carving with him once a week.  Will was a Caricature Carver of America member.  He also brought other CCA members to Vancouver.  They told us about other classes that were being held in Missoula MT. and Twin Falls ID. Going to those classes, enabled me to carve with a total of 12 Caricature carvers.  In Missoula, I met Desiree Hajny who was teaching classes in carving mammals.

That is when I started power carving.  I was then able to take a bird carving classes with Bob Guge.  I found it was hard to get teachers in the Portland area and started to invite carvers to come and teach at my home.  The Bishops, Cleve Taylor, Desiree Hajny and Josh Guge have come to teach at my home.