It has been said that art is a tryst, for in the joy of it, maker and beholder meet. - Kojiro Tomita

The woodcarvers

Russell had expressed a wish to see some genuine Thai woodcarvings. Little did he know what he was in for when we visited the woodcarvers.

The artisan at work

Each woodcarving is an individual creation which, depending on its complexity, can take many hours - or weeks - to complete.

Cutting fine detail requires good eyesight and fine motor control

The woodcarvers are artisans, who have been apprenticed since childhood. To watch them work is a privilege which serves to make one realise just how inadequate one's own feeble attempts at artistic endeavour are.

Lidy was allowed to try her hand

Lidy was allowed to do some of the detailed work on the side of a bureau - the side that goes up against the wall.

"Not bad" was the verdict - from Lidy and the artist

There are perhaps forty woodcarvers here and they carve reliefs into anything from small artifacts to doors and entire wall panels.

The artist finds a comfortable sitting position

The detail in the work is astonishing and there is not one machine in sight. It is all hand carved by the use of small tools and the skill of the artisan.


Beautiful representations of Thai myths and history are carved into panels which will adorn some fortunate individual's wall

Even the mulch on the forest floor is hand carved in exquisite detail