BREMERTON — Wood feathers so real they look downy.

A wooden salmon that looks good enough to eat.

A whimsical 3-foot giraffe sitting on a stack of books and scowling at a nearby carving of a wolf.

Pyrography (wood burning) so detailed it looks like a black and white photo.

All of this and more was on display at the 31st annual Kitsap County Woodcarvers’ juried exhibition at the West Side Civic Improvement Club in Bremerton on March 11 and 12.

The exhibit featured 170 carvings from Washington and Oregon and is one of the largest shows in terms of number of carvings in the Northwest, according to club president Mark Campbell.

“We have carvers from … as far south as Salem, Oregon, and north to British Columbia. I guess you could say we’re international,” he laughed.

The local group — the “Kitsap Carvers,” they call themselves — have 45 members ranging in age from 14 to senior citizens.

“We have all skill levels,” Campbell said, “from novice to intermediate to advanced.”

Best of Show went to Roger Storey of Spokane for “Saintly Lady,” a pyrography of Mother Teresa.

Among the advanced carvers, the Judge’s Choice went to the “Eagle Head” carving by Don Taylor of Sequim.

The Judge’s Choice — intermediate award went to Phil Kempbell of Coupeville for his carving, “Hooded Merganser Male.”

In the novice class, Bob Polaski of Shelton took home the Judge’s Choice ribbon for his “Horned Owl Mask.”

The Show Chairman’s Choice award went to the carving, “American Kestrel,” by Larry Harbaugh of Shelton.

People’s Choice Award went to “Overweight &Saggin,” by Tim Rhman of Spokane.

The Little Shavers Award went to a carving of an angel by 14-year-old Elizabeth Passage of Port Orchard.

— Terryl Asla is a reporter for Kitsap News Group. Contact him at tasla@soundpublishing.com.

Clockwise from left, A fish so real it looks stuffed instead of carved. Wood-carved ducks win awards on March 12. Some wood carvers say painting and staining is almost as important as the carving, especially on such pieces as “Gold Creek Crossing,” where a wood-carved bear crosses a raging river. This traditional, four-foot bas relief carving of grapes and grape vines would look at home in any kitchen or wine cellar. Terryl Asla / Kitsap News Group

Painting and staining is almost as important as the carving. Terryl Asla/Kitsap News Group

This traditional, four foot long bas-relief carving of grapes and grape vines would look at home in any kitchen or wine cellar. Terryl Asla/Kitsap News Group