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Sharing the joys of wildlife, one gift at a time!Hey there! My name is Melissa Benzinger McGlynn, and I am a self-taught artist of many mediums and self-professed swamp hermit hailing out of the Pocono Mountains of northeast Pennsylvania.
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Growing up in the Poconos has surrounded me by far more than just human neighbors. Every day I get to see wildlife of all sorts, all flying, running, and swimming through their days and nights. The natural world captivates and inspires me every day, and I hope to share that fascination through my work.
Most of my pieces have been inspired by my own encounters with wildlife in the Poconos. Each creation is a labor of love and respect, involving not just hours of crafting, but research on my subjects. While most of my work revolves around critters in the real world, some also come to me in my dreams, and demand to be created.
Still more of my pieces are meant to bring awareness to species in need of our help. We are ever on the verge of losing countless species due to pollution, deforestation, lead ammunition, and countless other man-made issues. My art dolls are each a labor of love and respect, involving not just hours of crafting, but research on my subjects. Working in wool with the art of needle-felting gives these creature creates a unique texture, whether it be feathers or fur. Details are added with sculpted clay to add more dimension and contrast.
In our current society, it is often too easy to forget about the beauty of the natural world. Our fellow creatures are our neighbors on this planet we share. I strive for my work to remind you of the amusement from that huge toad you saw at camp, or the wonder at that hawk who flew so low over your head you both made clear eye contact, or that rush of adrenaline as you barely missed a too-close-for-comfort encounter with a bear. I hope my work can bring a smile to your face as you remember your own encounters, just as the vulture has brought me into wildlife art.
Most of my pieces have been inspired by my own encounters with wildlife in the Poconos. Each creation is a labor of love and respect, involving not just hours of crafting, but research on my subjects. While most of my work revolves around critters in the real world, some also come to me in my dreams, and demand to be created.
Still more of my pieces are meant to bring awareness to species in need of our help. We are ever on the verge of losing countless species due to pollution, deforestation, lead ammunition, and countless other man-made issues. My art dolls are each a labor of love and respect, involving not just hours of crafting, but research on my subjects. Working in wool with the art of needle-felting gives these creature creates a unique texture, whether it be feathers or fur. Details are added with sculpted clay to add more dimension and contrast.
In our current society, it is often too easy to forget about the beauty of the natural world. Our fellow creatures are our neighbors on this planet we share. I strive for my work to remind you of the amusement from that huge toad you saw at camp, or the wonder at that hawk who flew so low over your head you both made clear eye contact, or that rush of adrenaline as you barely missed a too-close-for-comfort encounter with a bear. I hope my work can bring a smile to your face as you remember your own encounters, just as the vulture has brought me into wildlife art.
dancing vulture FAQ
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So why "Dancing Vulture"?
The most asked question! To be honest, vultures danced right through my dreams and into my heart! Once I found my love of creating wildlife art, I just had to name my little business after the bird that became my muse for it. Hence, Dancing Vulture Designs! What are these made out of? Most of my work is made by needle-felting wool. Some of my creations also sport clay or glass details, but the majority of what you'll see is fiber art. What is needle-felting? Needle-felting is a means of working wool into any shape you want by poking the wool repeatedly with a barbed needle. Think of sculpting with clay, but using wool and a needle instead! Are you a birder? Second generation! My dad is the real birder. I didn't find my own love of birds until I was 20 or so. I've been learning a lot from my dad, but there's still a lot I don't know! 
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Are these appropriate for kids?
Overall, I would say "no". That is, unless your kid is an art appreciator like I was! (I begged my parents to buy me this parrot sculpture from a department store when I was pretty little!) Oh, my cat/dog would totally destroy these in my house. Since my critters are made of wool, most animals like to think they're toys! Luckily, I can fix just about anything, so don't be afraid to reach out if your furry friend gets ahold of your fuzzy! Oh cool! So can you make a little portrait of my pet? I certainly can! My little pet portraits are so much fun to make, and I always offer to give your pet a personalized tag with their name on it! All you need to do is send me a contact through the Contact Form or send me an email at DancingVultureDesigns@gmail.com ! For pet portraits, I need as many quality photos of different angles of your pet as you can provide. Where did you go to school? I'm self-taught! I graduated high school into a tough financial situation, so I opted to make it work on my own instead of college. Have you ever heard...? Do tell! Seriously, if you have a show you want to share with me, an animal I haven't made, or just any ol' advice or story, do reach out! I take all advice to heart as I continue to grow as a wildlife-appreciator and artist. Have a question I haven't answered? Reach out through the Contact Form! |