Читать книгу Woodcarving Illustrated Issue 84 Fall 2018 - Группа авторов - Страница 16

Woodcarving Illustrated

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WINTER 2018

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Alec LaCasse, 23, made his teaching debut at the

52nd Annual International Woodcarvers Congress by

leading a bark-carving class. As this already marks his

12th year in the woodcarving world, he is something

of a phenomenon. His current students, many of

whom outstrip him by generations, describe him as

“refreshing,” “outstanding,” and “excellent.”

Said experienced carver and Congress

spokesperson, Carol Leavy, “I am amazed by Alec’s

artwork and his relaxed approach to it—he is young,

with no fear.” Show Chair Larry Yudis added, “In my 37

years here, I’ve never seen anyone so

talented at such a young age.”

During the course of the

Congress, Alec was featured at the

Maquoketa Art Experience, where

he created an impressive art piece in

approximately one hour. “Congress

was a great time,” Alec said. “I

had the opportunity to meet some

artists and carving heroes I had

been admiring for years.”

Alec started his art career in

the eighth grade, when a teacher

introduced him to soap carving.

After seeing his work, the teacher

called Alec’s mother and suggested,

strongly, that Alec should take

carving seriously. The rest, as they

say, is history.

Alec started selling his artwork

off the back of his moped at age

12, and hawked whimsical wood

sprites at local craft fairs. He won

best of show at the Frankenmuth

SPOTLIGHT

Alec

LaCasse

Woodcarving Show at age 16. (You can watch him

on YouTube having a “Wood Spirit Carving Face

Off” with Chris Whillock, where the crowd voted

Alec the winner.)

Currently, Alec is working on three commissions,

one for a city and two for private collections. All are

sizable compositions. In his personal life, Alec is in the

process of buying a new home on a lake, with enough

land to build a workshop on the property.

When asked what advice he would share with new

carvers, he said emphatically, “Buy good tools from the

start. They don’t have to be expensive, but as long as

they hold an edge, you will be much better off. My first

set was so dull, it would have required a blacksmith to

make them usable!”

The 53rd Annual International Woodcarvers

Congress will be held in Maquoketa, Iowa, during the

second full week of June next year, and Alec has been

invited back. Find more of his work at aleclacasse.com.

Submitted by Diane Colley. For more information,

visit awcltd.org/congress.

news

and notes

Photo

©

Marc Featherly

Photo

©

Alec Lacasse

Photo

©

Alec Lacasse

Photo

©

Marc Featherly