Wayne R. Card:
Inside the Life of an "Outsider Artist"

"What you do while you're working is what you'll do after you retire."

Wayne R. Card, a Sussex County native, grew up on a small farm in Beemerville, New Jersey. He and his wife, Lorraine raised their family on Card Road, where they still reside today. Wayne had always enjoyed woodworking in his free time, but it wasn’t until his retirement from Jersey Central Power and Light after 38 years as an electrical lineman, that this hobby flourished and expanded into the massive collection that exists today.

Wayne is self-taught and works with clay, cement, wood, stone, and basically any other item he can get his hands on. Nothing goes to waste around this house! He has always had a love for clay, for its enormous flexibility, and this medium can be seen in various different pieces. Wayne has a natural gift and an eye like no other, with the ability to turn what others may view as useless into beautiful, intricate creations. He enjoys designing and creating works that express his knack and talent for capturing that “old time” look.

There is no stone that Wayne cannot work with. As a juried craftsman and show exhibitor, he has a great appreciation for working with your hands and creativity.

A typical day for Wayne involves five to six hours spent working on his various creative pieces around the property. He enjoys breaks from the creative process, and often travels in search of both objects and inspiration. His more recognizable pieces include whimsical canes and hiking sticks; unique out-houses and sheds; and artsy garden gates; even the house itself was built by Wayne. In addition to these, the house and property are filled with sculptural pieces of all shapes and sizes. A fan of carving and sculpting human faces, Wayne has incorporated depictions of faces throughout his art. Whether it is in clay or wood, one can see the influence of tribal art in and around his studio.

His works are unlike anything you have ever seen before. One-of-a-kind, different—something you need to see to believe.