Featured Carver of the Month #1

STEVE ELI

Woodcarving/Pyrography Artist

JOHNSTON CITY, ILLINOIS

As I am the only current member of the Tri-State Woodcarvers Club from Illinois I guess I make up the “tri” in tri-state carvers. I live in Johnston City, Illinois with my wife, Palanita. Our daughter, Megan and son-in-law Kevin reside in Peoria. Next door is a character many carving club members know, our friend, Rocky. “Sumdaya Ranch” is also home to a paint horse, an Aussie mix dog and the prince of the house, our cat, Andi! I am a retired high school art teacher having taught at Johnston City High School, just a half mile from our home, for 33 ½ years. I am proud to say that I actually started the art program at the high school.

My own art interest includes drawing and especially pen and ink drawing and I also like to paint in watercolors and acrylics. In 1995 I started getting interested in woodcarving and like several of the crafts that I taught at the high school I had to learn a lot on my own. A local art store owner told me that carvers used a pocket knife ground down to a fine edge. I’ve learned differently since then and that is easily seen by a glance at my tool carrier with knives, gouges and band-aids!

A few years ago a friend I met announcing horse shows in Indiana told me about the Tri-state Woodcarvers Club, she knew I was an art teacher and might be interested in carving. We shared another interest her husband was a horse show announcer, one that I had admired as an announcer and even patterned some of my announcing after. Coming to the carving club meetings once a month allows my wife and I the opportunity to visit with Larry and Kathy Vonderahe, Sister Anthony and our carving club friends. If I ever get discouraged about my carving I don’t stay that way long as Larry and Kathy are great at “encouraging” progress while discouraging “disappointment”.

Driving 100 miles one way to attend the carving meetings is just like the saying goes “the road to a friend’s house is never long”! That’s how I feel about the tri-state carving club I have met and made many friends and I appreciate how the talents and knowledge of experienced carvers has helped to encourage my own carving. I say I don’t carve, “ I play at it”! I try different types of carving and really enjoy pyrography ( I also learned that meant wood burning!). Favorite carving subjects include Santas and wood burning subjects include animals, especially horses!

In my Art Barn hangs a quote from a favorite Western Artist, Charles M. Russell. I find it fitting to describe what we do as carvers:

“Talent, like a birthmark is God Given, with no credit, nor fault to the Wearer”!