Trenton Beard’s wood burned portrayal of a Callahan Riverboat on aged, reclaimed cypress, received the cherished People’s Choice Award on Sunday, at the close of the Decatur County Artists Winter Membership exhibit.

Beard, a self-taught artist who now has his studio located at Logue’s Furniture, had five pieces of his distinctive wood burning art on display.

His work has attracted the attention of a Dunnellon, Florida resident, who after seeing an article from The Post Searchlight on his Facebook page, about the steamboat creation, drove to Bainbridge to view it in the art show. She has since commissioned him to do some oil portraits.

Beard was happy with the results of the show, saying, “There was some great art there.” He specifically mentioned the work of portrait artist Darlene McBride, who has invited him to come to her portrait studio in Havana. “I’m excited about going there and plan to take some courses from her.” He has done some oils earlier in his career, and also concentrates on intricate pen and ink drawings. He has a great fondness for historical subjects. He is currently working on a wildlife scene wood-burned on a piece of 100 year-old heart pine plank flooring taken from the old Miller Hydro Building.

He uses all kinds of wood and said he has no preference for one over the other. “Each has its own personality. I am reminded of the old saying ‘trees have spirits’ when I am working on them. It’s like I can feel them,” he explains.

Beard said his work has been compared to a German woodcutter, Albrecht Durer, a painter and print maker from the 1400s. “He was in a class by himself,” said Beard.

The same could be said of Beard, whose originality shows through in all his work.