Wood Carver

“When everybody comes into my studio, they say ‘Wow,’” said George Chau, the one and only woodcarver and sculptor in the New York City area from Forest Hills.
Indeed, “wow” is the perfect word to describe Chau’s basement woodcarving studio. Almost every inch of the white walls is covered with all sorts of wood carved pieces from signs and mirrors to love spoons and clocks. The cool air-conditioned breeze blows through the room while light classical music plays in the background creating a calm environment.
On a Saturday morning, Chau prepares to teach a group of five students, who attend his “Woodcarving for Beginners” class every week. For the two hours they spend with him, Chau assists his students on their individual projects, teaching them various techniques of chipping and smoothing the wood.
Chau, who is now 63 years old, started wood carving 15 years ago. As a student, he attended Rhode Island School of Design, which he said was the toughest art school in the country at the time. However, after a year in art school, his father discouraged him from art and placed him in business school. His family also said woodcarving was not a real job.
Nevertheless, Chau said, “I combined the two areas [that were] completely unrelated. It just happened that way and it was a good opportunity. A lot of people wouldn’t do what I did so it was [also] a choice.”
As a teacher, Chau offers many different classes for all levels. He likes teaching because he feels it is interesting compared to reading and learning from a book.
“People can learn through books,” Chau said, “but all of them in the first three chapters tell about shopping tools so people get turned off by the intense technical issues.”
During his classes, he helps his students by pointing them in the right direction for their project. He provides his students with the materials they need for a minimal cost, which is a part of the cost of the class.
“Most people that come here, they don’t know they have the skill,” Chau said. “Woodcarving is easy because you can even carve at the beach.”
Chau said that his students have full-time jobs and come from all ages and walks of life. He offers the classes everyday except for Friday, which he said is a day for himself to spend time with his family or simply to relax.
Eleanor Lunn, a retired New York City English teacher from Jackson Heights, has been doing woodcarving for more than two years. She has spent her time in class making many plaques and walking sticks for her relatives.
“Carving to me is a spiritual thing,” she said. “It’s magical to see the wood transforming into something. It’s very satisfying.”
On the other hand, student Erica Sanders, 43, a manager by profession, has been taking the class for a month and already has two pieces done and is working on her third.
“George is a very good teacher,” Sanders said. “I like his style…he teaches in a way that you can understand. He teaches you in a fun approach and to try new things.”
Other students like Heather Saslovsky, 28, a lawyer from Kew Gardens, said woodcarving is a type of stress relief for her rather than just a hobby.
She said, “It’s good stress relief and it’s helpful. [You] get a finished product to take home with you and you see your own progress.”
Chau proudly said that more than 60 percent of his students are women because he thinks they have “realistic expectations.”
Elizabeth Menzer, 39, a retail analyst from Elmhurst, agreed with her instructor.
“More women [are] entering carving out of sheer necessity to do their own home projects and it’s not that hard. Women are pretty good at it,” Menzer said.
Chau has no plans to retire because he loves woodcarving and said that it is “a lifetime passion.”
“Be sure about what you love to do. Believe and enjoy what you do and you’ll be successful,” he said.
As for his lesson in life, he added, “Be positive and a lot of things will come to you in your life time.”
To contact George Chau, visit www.woodcarvingnyc.com.