Photo Report: Woodworking In Sri Lanka

First, I need to say “Wow.” You got some great shots. I like the editorial style that you chose to report on the shop. I hate posed pictures, and yours have not only captured the subject but the essence of that place and its people.

Secondly, I think it proves a simple point- “Great work exists in the hands of the maker, not the tools they use.” I’d bet most of their tools are hand made in the shop and cobbled together from old car springs. I met an African carver and most of his tools were old files and leaf springs from cars.

Finally, I love the work, but it appears to be made for export. Do they buy the items for themselves or to be sold at other venues? What were prices like on some of the larger pieces? I’d bet they were too good to pass up…

-- Steven

Repeat after me… I WILL NEVER CUS MY TOOLS AGAIN!

Great photos Martin. What a tremendous adventure for you.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Did you manage to recruit any to lumberjocks

-- A. Molloy

Martin, what do some of the smaller pieces sell for?

That is some beautiful craftsmanship.

-- Grant...."GO BUCKEYES"

Thanks for the tour Martin. A great series of photos.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

I always marvel at the craftsmanship of these people with the minimum of tools – I just wonder what they could achieve with the resources most of us have to hand.

Thank you for sharing part of you holiday with us

-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)

Amazing. Beatiful photos and what wonderful craftsmanship.

-- Adrian ..... The 11th Commandment...."Thou Shalt Not Buy A Wobble Dado"

now thats beautiful craftsmanship! did you pick up any pieces yourself?

IN…CREDIBLE!!!

Did you get them to sign up on Lumberjocks?

Thanks for posting the photos for us.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com

Nice stuff there. Love the colorful Elephant especially, but maybe because I’m wearing a tie-dye shirt today. I always cringe when I see the amounts of “scrap” Honduras Mahogany thrown out at the places I go to when in Central America.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

Martin, I dido all the above remarks.WOW…....... Like everyone else, what do these pieces sell for on the open market?

-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps

What a Vacation
Thats useing your hands cool work

-- Jim, Kentucky

a great collection of photos.
Very inspirational and, yes, a reminder that it’s not “the tools” that create great things

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Great Pictures. What beautiful works you have captured.

-- Jerry, Set in the foothills of the Smokey's

good job as always

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

Great pics Martin. Just goes to show you don’t need a fancy shop or flash tools to do a great job on a piece of wood.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Very cool photos. I hope you enjoyed watching these guys as much as I enjoyed the photos. There’s nothing like watching a craftsman at work.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

Thanks for the great tour Martin.

That goes to show you that its the the man behind the tool, & not the tool.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I wonder how much the journeymen make? Four maybe five dollars a day.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Awesome pics. So how many of those pieces did you buy for future LumberJocks contest prizes?

-- Eric at http://adventuresinwoodworking.com

We’ve bought one Ganesha sculpture.. similar to this one:

but much smaller. We got nice honeymoon discount ($320 → $250) as well as a small elephant for free ;)

They are selling these pieces to tourists and the prices are in hundreds and thousands of dollars depending on the size and type of wood (ebony being the most expensive).

-- Martin, http://lumberjocks.com | My Facebook: http://profile.to/msojka

Martin, that will be a great conversation piece for many years to come. Congrats on the new marriage to you and the new Mrs. also.

-- Grant...."GO BUCKEYES"

I’ve just posted Flora Photo Report at GT.. you may find it interesting too ;)

-- Martin, http://lumberjocks.com | My Facebook: http://profile.to/msojka