Cherokee Wood Carving

James “Bud” Smith is an artist, educator, and a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who is a native of Cherokee, North Carolina. He first studied woodcarving at Cherokee High School under the well-known Native American sculptor, Amanda Crowe. Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, a Master of Arts in Education, and a Doctorate in Education from Oakland City University. Since 1993, he has taught contemporary and traditional Native American woodcarving techniques to high school students and at institutions like Oakland City University and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, and he more recently teaches at regional art schools such as Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. For Smith, sculpture is fundamentally a tactile experience; he believes being Native American brings an innate, distinctive spirit to his art, which he couples with individual experience to develop his unique style.