Today, I want to share with you some photos and an instructional video from Thai master carver and teacher, Wan Hertz.
Thailand is one of the countries best known for it’s beautiful fruit carvings. And, Wan Hertz carves some of the finest Thai fruit carving that I have seen. The detail and intricacy of her carvings are amazing. Take a look at this one. Can you believe that she did this in only 3 hours? Look how complex the detail is!
This intricate melon carving took Wan 3 hours to carve.
How Wan Hertz Become a Master Carver.
Born and raised in Thailand, Wan grew up in a culture rich in traditions of beautiful arts including fruit and vegetable carving. She began to learn Thai fruit carving when she was just 12 years old and began a life devoted to improving and perfecting her fruit carving skills.
Wan Hertz with one of her watermelon carvings
Wan Hertz attended Kasetsart University in Khon Kaen studying culinary arts for 3 years. She studied culinary arts at the Institute of Technology Pranakorn. And in 2005 she attended the Kasetsart University taking advanced classes in Food Styling & Royal Thai Cuisine. Wan has also studied advanced techniques in Fruit & Vegetable Carving with some of the most talented carvers in Thailand. And it shows.
As a result of her talent and her dedication to the art of fruit and vegetable carving, Wan has earned numerous awards and recognition for her beautiful fruit carving including a Gold Medal that was awarded in 1996 from Salon Culinaire in a Worldwide Fruit & Vegetable Carving Competition. She was also the first place winner in the Brazilian Fruit & Vegetable Carving Competition in 2008.
In addition to being a master carver, Wan is also a teacher of fruit carving in Thailand. Wan and her husband Larry have provided this video to share with you. It’s a short video lesson by Wan showing how to carve a flower from kabocha squash.
If you are inspired to carve the flower that Wan Hertz demonstrates in this video, you can get the Thai Style Knife like the one she uses in the video in my shop. In order to carve this particular flower, you really do need a very sharp, thin, flexible blade, fruit carving knife. The Kom Kom and Tombo fruit carving knives will not work nearly as well.
If you are not familiar with kabocha squash used in this video, check out my article and video about kabocha squash on my blog.
Wan Hertz demonstrates how to carve a flower, Thai style.
If you plan to go to Thailand and you love fruit carving, make sure to schedule time to take fruit carving classes with Wan Hertz.
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