Below are excerpts from two of  many wonderful unsolicited comments Matt has received from his clients.  The first is
         from a raven enthusiast in Maine, the other contains excerpts from a gentleman who commissioned a carving of the extinct
         passenger pigeon.
 

     Hello Matt

                The Raven arrived.  It is all we expected and more, totally realistic and magnificently carved...and appears
                as real as the one we photographed at Crawford Knotch in New Hampshire.  The arrogant expression is
                priceless as is the massive size you captured.  We are truly speechless and 100% pleased.  Thank you
                so much.

                 Bill
 
 

                 "... after I put the carving together my eyes just started streaming while I looked at it and thought about
                  the huge flocks of them that used to tumble across the country ... you've so exceeded any thoughts I
                  originally had.  ... this carving is priceless. ... I never imagined that I would ever be fortunate enough to
                  own anything like this."  (speaking of a passenger pigeon carving)

                  Ken
 

        Following are excerpts from the e-mails and letters from other clients, clearly illustrating what they think of Matt's work -
        and what you can expect from one of Matt's carvings or sculptures.
 

•  " ... as an item of art, this is something that will be enjoyed for a good long time by me and whatever person or museum winds up with it after I'm gone."

•  "The blue heron is truly a work of art that cannot be adequately described, but must be experienced."

•  "My wife ... chuckled at me when I first told her of my plans with your work. Well, she is not chuckling anymore. Her comment was 'Fantastic, Beyond belief!!' ".

•  "... belongs in a museum."

•  "It looks ready to fly ..."

•   "I have seen many carvings and I certainly can recognize different levels of quality - I'm truly impressed by your work."

 
•   "You need to put the word ELITE between your name and the word carver."

•   "After going through page after page I came to your web site.  By far they were the best."

•   "matt, the wood pecker arrived ... it looks wonderful!!!  thank you so much for your wonderful work."

•   "Fisher arrived Monday. Personally, I think it’s the best of the bunch. It’s getting rave reviews from all who see it."

•   "you will easily recognize your loons...the accurate and unusual ones........i purchased some awful ones.....the mistakes of a collector..i hope this helps you matt, as the full size common loon of yours  is the best i have....my wife] is very excited too!!!  i feel honored at your quest for perfection"

•   "We are truly enjoying your art and love how it enhances our home."

•   "Andree (my wife) was ecstatic ... it now has a privileged place in the house. Our thanks for the supreme effort and the wonderful sculpting we are very pleased.

•   "FANTASTIC!!!!...i LOVE it!!!"

•   "i have not been disappointed by you on any comission...keep up the good work!!!!"

 

•   "...it represents your skill and knowledge."

•   "i could not be more pleased!!!

•  "... falcon arrived today.  It's beautiful and your workmanship is just fabulous ....I  can recommend your carving abilities to anyone who is looking for first class work."

•   "Your research and carving abilities provide great pleasure to others".

•   " ... when I read a poem I 'get the feeling'.  With your work I ... also 'get the feeling'."

•   "...captured the spirit and behavior."

•   "I presented it to my wife, who was stunned.  'It's gorgeous' were her first words....You do wonderful work....It will be one of our treasures, you can be sure of that."

•   "You are the best as I stated with the crow."

•   "...you get such incredible response from your clients because  you exceed what people want."

•   "I've looked around since I saw a carving of your great blue heron. Many cost much more, but none come close to yours in quality."

•   "I love my horned puffin.  You have captured their physical characteristics perfectly....Thank you so much for making me something that I will enjoy for a lifetime."

•   "The carving is just beautiful! It is everything and more than I expected."

•   "We went to Camden Maine today  While we were there we stopped at The Ducktrap Gallery  They have woodcarvings by several top carvers from around the world  Your carvings compare favorably to what we saw"

•  "Your wonderful loon has joined my collection and is by far the most outstanding of all!"

•   "Your work in not good.  It is genius!"

•    "... love it! Perfect."

•    "i was just standing there looking at the back of the puffin, and i floated away in its art."

•    "Matt- the repair looks great! and I appreciate all of your attention to detail."

•    "...you're a gentleman, to be sure.  i appreciate you going above and beyond.  you'll be part of that owl."

•    "... was a smash hit!!"

•    "... you've so exceeded any thoughts I originally had."

•    "It is fantastic and you are amazing. I love it."

•    "(the great horned owl is) absolutely great. your work is better than i ever expected.  he's the best.  thanks.  he's a real addition to the house."

•    "... the proportions are outstanding....the way you carved the back is amazing...as also the shape of the neck, head, and some carvers just cannot carve a beak to save their lives...."

•    "I have done much research and photography of the corvid family, and found your carvings to be precisely what I was looking for."

•    "I have seen many carvings and I certainly can recognize different levels of quality - I'm truly impressed by your work."

•    "... you exceed what people want.  If you created exactly what I WANTED it wouldn't have turned out nearly as well as it did ... I told you to do what you wanted to do and you did, you can't argue with the results."

•    "... looks magnificent ... can't wait to see it in the wood.  I find your talent amazing as (it) appears about to fly away in the photos."

•    "i trust you received my rave review about my loon 2 days ago....it is indeed a treasure...in addition to the other comments, i also love the "vortexing" of the painting of the wings and body when viewed from above...

•   "...thank you so much for another  'Matt treasure.' "

•   "Your Avocet is admired by all who see it among our flock and is an enduring source of pleasure to us."

•   "The Owl arrived this morning and it's all the rage in  my company. It' very lifelike and I know will be awesome at the mountain house."

•   "... a work of art and a carving you can be truly proud of creating for us."

•   "... sitting proudly in a place of honor in our home."

•   "...such a  perfect rendition. Thank you so much for  your hard work...you really are an  artist!"

•   "WOW!!!  i got the loon and am totally blown away by it!!!! much better than i had "expected"...a truly beautiful head (the "posture" and the intentional elongation of the  neck on your part really did it for me!!!)  ... and superb artistry in the painting too....my wife thought it "sensual" and is even insisting that it stay in our boston home....now  you may not realize it, but that is an unbelievable comment on your craftsmanship..."

•   " ... it is wonderful - perhaps its best feature is that every time one looks at it, another 'feature' is revealed ... thanks for doing such a wonderful job."

•   "Your work captures the inner quality ... those subtle aspects that make the species what it is."

•   "... the custodians of your pieces (are) lucky.  they appear to have an animation that come from you alone.  you should be proud.  I know I will be when I receive it, and look forward to getting more pieces from you."

•   "i have many loons, but yours is my favorite....my wife's too - she has "stolen" it from me and sits in HER office..."

•   "... we have a great pleasure with our small robin. It has exactly the attitude "ours" has in England where he was so familiar. You carved it wonderfully."

•   "My husband wonders if he will get another carving for his birthday - possibly a chickadee?  I guess that shows you how much he appreciates and is enjoying the nuthatch."

•   "You brought life into this carving and ultimately, you're a scientist and an artist..."

•   " You don't see things like that anymore.  This is excellent craftsmanship."

•   "LOVE THE BIRD!!!  I am in awe of your ability to create such beauty"

•   "Your beautiful artwork will have a special place of honor in our home."

•   " ... how delighted ... my husband is ... absolutely LOVES it!"

•   "You are a true inspiration to carvers."

•   " ... commend your talent ... definitely captures the character of the wood duck...."

•   "When I came across your site and saw the crow and the raven as well, I just didn't need to look any further, it was exactly what I wanted. From that point on you did not disappoint me."

•   "You have captured the essence of loon."

•   "The pelican is spectacular ... we are very pleased with it."

•   "Your work is fantastic."

•    "I appreciate the care you take with your work...."

•    "I look forward to my wife's look of delight when she sees it."

•   "It's a beauty, instantly one of my favorite possessions.  I can't imagine a better job."

•   "Hi!  It is here and it is superb!!!!!!!!!!!!"

•   "It really is beautiful and I thank you so much ... it's perfect!"

•   "It has been a pleasure doing business with you and I will highly recommend you to all I  know."

•   "Matt, the carving arrived today.  More impressive even than the photos -

   thank you."

•   "Thanks a million!!!  It's wonderful!!!"

•   "beautiful loon!!!!  i LOVE IT!!!! (and i do not use capital letters very often....except for special emphasis)...."

•   "The decoys you carved are the pride of my collection. They look awesome

in the water. I wouldn't consider ever selling them."

•   "Top notch. I have another 1/2 dozen from 4 other carvers of all varieties. Your Shovelers are by far my favorite. They will be handed down to Sons and Grandsons."

•   "I liked your work and knew you would do a beautiful job, and you did.  Thank you!"

•   "the loon w/ chicks arrived today...all i can say is THAT I AM SO VERY, VERY PLEASED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  it is so accurate i am stunned...i got a great bargain price wise too...."

•   "We are somewhat concerned he may come to life and fly away at any moment."

•   "The loon arrived today.  Unbelievable!  Wonderful! ... I can hear him call."

•    "We rec'd the carving yesterday.... It is very beautiful and better than the website shows!"

•  "When I saw it, quite honestly, it took my breath away!  ... it is an absolute beauty.

•  "Your art speaks to me as a creation which I know belongs in our home."

•  " ... very impressed by your skill."

•  "I received the skimmer today.  Wow!  It looks great.  I can't tell you how pleased I am.  I will definitely commission you in the future ..."

•  "It is wonderful.... Thanks ever so much for making this beautiful creation for me."

•   " ... what a beautiful job you did on our sanderling ... it's as real as I've ever seen."

•   "Words can't describe how delighted I am."

•   "I LOVE my new Gadwall!  You do beautiful work.  ... looking forward to receiving the next two (wood ducks).  I've hinted that I would love to have a loon for my birthday in July!!"

•   "I have several (herons) ... but this is one of the best ones I have ever seen."

•   "I'm speechless."

•   "... there is a quality that goes beyond ... reality."

•   "well I cannot tell u how much I like that carving Matt, its beautiful

and I am so glad u did it and so glad I caught it in time."

•  "You have made me very happy and I enjoy looking at the sandpiper when I open my eyes in the start of a new day."

•  " ... we were absolutely delighted.  Your work is all that we had hoped it might be ... thank you for listening to our desires and turning them into such a work of art."

•  " ... absolutely beautiful.  I appreciate the extra work you put into it on the detailing.   I am going to hate to part with it ... going to be his favorite gift."

•  " ... displayed very proudly".

•  "... arrived today...in a word; beautiful !!"

•  "Thanks Matt!  You have exceeded my expectations! "

•  " You have the ability not just to carve likeness, but to capture and instill life into your works."

•  "A great big special thanks to you for your beautiful interpretation."

•  "Love the (Cooper's hawk).  It's so real we are afraid to put it near the window."

•  " ... capture the ... intensity and alertness of the moment."

•  "Your work is beautiful and I just wanted to let you know how much I as well

  as the people who received them as gifts, enjoyed them."

•  "... I was very surprised with the quality and insight of your carving."

•  "It is beautiful, it's unique and it represents your skill and knowledge."

•  "I never imagined that I could have such a carving. I am truly privileged."

•  "I have been blessed with your magnificent work!"

•  " She ABSOLUTELY loves it!  She's going to give it a special place in our home."

•  "I received the carving yesterday.  It is wonderful and even better than I envisioned!  Thanks so much for all your patience, hard work, and creativity.  ...if I can ever be a reference for your work don't hesitate."

• "MATT MATT MATT, THE BIRD HAS ARRIVED!  OH MY GOD,  IT IS SPECTACULAR,  WOW, I JUST  KNEW I WOULD LOVE IT AND I DO, WHAT A BEAUTY, I AM SO GLAD I DECIDED TO BUY, AND SO GLAD YOU DECIDED  TO CARVE IT, GEEZ ITS MAGNIFICENT."

• The following comment is from a carver whose work Matt thinks very highly of:  "...admire your carvings a great deal, and I believe that anyone would be proud to own one of your creations."

•  "I'm sending the loon poem ... I'd be honored to have it included with the really impressive art you produce."

                                                                                                     J. L. SHIELDS
 
 

                    The following poem was sent  to Matt by a client who has one of his puffin carvings.

---

The following is from a piece forwarded by a satisfied client who had written it for a local newspaper; it shows what you can expect from a Matt creation:

Ron Casterline
Upper Marlboro, MD

The pieces Matt carved for this client may be seen at HERONS (scroll down to the bottom of the page).