A professional carver since 1983, Floyd Scholz is universally recognized as one of the preeminent woodcarvers and painters in the world today. His portrayal of eagles, hawks, owls, and many other large birds has won him a large international following and many top awards at major shows throughout the country. When not in his studio, traveling and doing essential field studies of birds takes up most of his time.
Scholz is a five-time U.S. National Champion and the 2005 World Master’s Best in Show Champion. Scholz’s work has been included in the prestigious Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum Birds in Art exhibition and has been featured in many publications including Smithsonian Studies in American Art and People Magazine, where he was heralded as “one of the world’s true Renaissance men.” His work is included in many important collections worldwide, and he has been featured on many television shows. As the author of five award-winning books on raptors, Scholz’s passion for birds and love of art has been shared with generations of bird lovers and artists worldwide.
Scholz graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a B.S. degree in Industrial Education. In the late 70s, Floyd was a nationally ranked track and field star specializing in the grueling ten-event decathlon. He was a three-time All-American, 1979 NCAA National Champion, and the recipient of a Presidential Citation. He trained for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, but missed the chance to realize his dream due to the boycott of the games that year.
Without looking back, Floyd moved to the mountains of Vermont from his native Connecticut and started a new life. At first, Scholz intended to teach school, but found that logging paid better and the physical labor was rewarding. He later worked for a building contractor, before making the transition to carving full time. His redirected focus on his artwork and music turned out to be a very good move!
Scholz enjoys the drama, grace, and mystery of birds of prey. His sculptures depict the birds in a highly animated way. He has spent thousands of hours observing hawks and eagles in the mountains near his home, watching them as they interact with their environment. Hawks are birds of action and high drama, which is exactly how he portrays them.
Scholz was heavily influenced by the late John Scheeler, who proved to not only be a close friend but a mentor to him as well. One of his dear friends and collectors Elizabeth Taylor once summed it up perfectly when she said, “Floyd, you really soar with your eagles!”