[Woodcarver] FW: Thailand Woodcarving

[STEPHEN L MENDELSOHN]

Happy New Year to all! Living here in Thailand over half time now, I have been unsuccessful in finding other wood carvers.  There are many very fine professional carvers here in Thailand that turn out amazing work.  However, all the carvers I have met live and work in rural villages.  They are carving for a lively hood and do not speak english.  It is hard to believe how few tools they have and turn out their amazing carvings.  Power equipment we are so used to does not exist with these carvers.  (The exceptions might be a electric drill and a homemade single wheel grinder made from a salvaged old motor.)  As a result it is obvious that the Thai carvers are not interested in any part of a Carving Group/Club as we are accustomed to in the states.  They learn to carve mostly via what we would call an apprentice program so they are not available for teaching.  The Thai's are very friendly, and are happy to visit to the extent possible with the language barrier.  I am also having difficulty finding wood similar to Basswood, Butternut or Chestnut.  They carve mostly in very, very, hard Teak and Cassia wood, which when I even think about carving in either again, my elbow starts to hurt. lol  Any contacts, referrals or suggestions from any of you will be greatly appreciated.  You can reply via this site or you may write me directly at my email address below. Best regards, Steve Mendelsohntnbosco at msn.com 
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