Dick and Nancy Moore were high school classmates - and, at the time, had no idea they would celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary together. After college, Dick entered the Air Force and become a fighter pilot. Nancy completed her education and was certified as a special education teacher. Together they were stationed around the world, spending 23 years in Germany.
Nancy started painting when she was 45. Since then, she has studied under master artists Jo Sonja Jansen and Heidi England. During their last tour to Germany, Dick, then 50, took the opportunity to learn woodcarving from master carver Franz Binder in Kundl, Austria. They combined their skills to create a few Santas for friends. Word of mouth requests for their work turned their hobby into a year-round activity for them. Their collection now includes about 25 different Santas generally based on a European holiday custom or tradition.
The Moores create their Old World Santas in the European St Nicholas/Father Christmas tradition. Dick carves each Santa from basswood using Austrian Stubai carving chisels, spending from 40 to 50 hours on each one. Nancy then paints each one.
Since their return to the United States in 1991, they have been featured in numerous magazines as well as on Cable News Network.
Dick & Nancy Moore 3301 E. Malapai Dr. Phoenix, AZ 85028 Phone: 602-953-2683 Fax: 602-494-0418 Email: dickandnancymoore@cox.net
Dick Moore & Nancy Moore have been selected for the following Directories:
2010 HOLIDAY
2009 HOLIDAY
2008 SANTAS
2007 SANTAS
2006 SANTAS
2005 HOLIDAY
2004 CHRISTMAS
2004 WOODCARVING
2002 WOODCARVING, CHRISTMAS
Biography updated January 12, 2023 Photograph updated February 9, 2021Contact information updated August 9, 2012
The entry deadline for the 2023 Directory of
Traditional American Crafts has passed. We are now processing entries and submitting
them to our jurors. We will contract entrants after the jurors have made ther decisions.