Here are my most recent Thai watermelon carvings that I made in preparation for the Thai Loy Krathong festival at the local Thai Temple which took place last Sunday. This was the first time, I’ve made this particular pattern. I made it in honor of my teacher. She gifted me the book that contains this pattern while on her deathbed. Quite literally. She was sick and in pain. Yet, always the giver, she wanted me to have her carving books.
I made two variations shown below.
These Thai watermelon carvings and other carvings were made by Nita Gill for the Loy Krathong Festival
My teacher, Thanom (Tammy) Sterrit always created a lovely booth to showcase the Thai art of fruit carving at each of the major Thai festivals. This year we wanted her tradition to continue. One of Tammy’s other students, Nujarin took on the responsibility to create this year’s booth at the Loy Krathong Festival. Several other students and teachers made carvings for it. It turned out absolutely beautiful. A riot of color. I’ll be sharing those photos with you when I have time after this busy weekend is over.
In the meantime, you can see the carvings that I brought to contribute to the Thai fruit carving booth.
Closer Look at the Thai Watermelon Carvings
Here is a closer look at Nita’s Thai watermelon carving pattern.
If you want to see these images larger, just click on them.
This side view allows you to see the roses better as well as the various layers of the pattern.
This was my first attempt at this pattern.
This was my first attempt at carving this pattern. I just continued the inner pattern on the outer sections rather than making the roses.
Close up look at the bird that Nita carved from diakon.
This bird was something else I carved in honor of my teacher Tammy. She had carved a similar bird for the Thai Songkran Festival that I shared with you in a blog post from a couple of years ago. In case you are wondering, in the photo above, the green and orange-yellow fruit with the roses is a carved papaya. The green flowers are cucumber with carrot centers. And, of course there are the Thai watermelon carvings in the background.
Daikon bird carving that Tammy carved and painted with food coloring
In a few days, I’ll show you the photos of all the Thai watermelon carvings and other carvings at the Loy Krathong Festival. It really was gorgeous. You will see….
These are absolutely gorgeous. You are a true artist 🙂
Thank you Chaste
I love your job,
It is an excellent art work Nita!!!
Thank you.
The carvings are stunning I could not take my eyes off them. You are very talented.
Thanks Nirmala. Glad you liked seeing them.
I always admire your inspiration .This is another set The thai fruit carving are awsome .you are very bleesed .I pray i can be smooth like than .Please let us have the tutorial ,you can sing me on .Thanks for sharing
Beautiful!!!
That is absolutely beautiful. God bless you Nita. Are you going to be offering classes on how to do this? I would love to learn how to make the birds.
Thanks
Thank you Blanca.
I’ve gotten a lot of requests so I will add it to my list of lessons to make.
That what you call work of art , just wonderful just looking and it it like a light shining on your face , i would like to be half has good as that and i can say yes am heading there , wish you hall the best on many many more
Its great to such a beautiful carvings
Its great to see such a beautiful carvings… thanks.