Creative Woodworks & crafts 2003-08, страница 42

By Kathy Morawski, Associate Editor

How is it that small things can have such a big impact? According lo Zu iang, it's all in the details. Viewers of his matchstick carvings are often amazed by the carver's attention to and skilled handling of minute details. While expected in carvings | of a greater scale, it is surprising on f: matchstick-sized miniatures.

Zu Liang It's the little things in life

Zu's appreciation of miniatures began with his childhood collections of small loy cars, trains and robots. The more details these items displayed, the belier. He admits it became an addiction, and two decades later, his collections are still growing.

In describing his self-appointed obsession with the minute, Zu explains it's due to the way he focuses on the details in objects. An ordinary cardboard box isn't just a box of cardboard to Zu. Rather, he is consumed by the wrinkles, rips, cracks and folds that individualize its surface.

Thinking outside the box

Zu studied graphic design and computer animation in college, but the matchstick carvings came to light during his earlier school days.

Near the end of eighth grade, Zu won an industrial shop award for building the largest and strongest bridge made from maichsiicks. His instructor then gave him a huge bundle of maichsiicks. hoping it would inspire the building of more bridges over the summer vacation. Zu had other ideas, went to the other extreme, and an unusual hobby was born.

The matchstick carvings are always representations of recognizable images, such as cartoon characters or animals. Many of the subject ideas arrive by the request or suggestion of others, so Zu will

create at least two carvings of each subject and keep one lor his own personal collection.

Though Zu generally views his carving work as a personal hobby, he does create carvings for gifts and limited commissions. His lasi commission involved carving a matchstick groom and bride for a couple's wedding.

"It's all in the details

Less is more

Even with his tools, Zu is a minimalist. He carves using only an X-acto knife with No. 11 blades and finishes the detail with very fine-grit sandpaper. He's been using the same techniques since 1987 and says, "All these years and I've never cut myself." He doesn't use any type of device, other than his hands, for holding (he stick as he carves, because he says it offers more control and a better feel of the wood and blade. An average carving will lake approximately an hour to complete and then he'll paint the piece, again only using his hands to hold the stick as he works. Both water- and oil-based paints are applied for different color contrasts by using a No. 000 spotter brush. If that brush isn't small enough, Zu will make his own brush or alter a brush by stripping most of the bristles from it.

Even with an obsessive eye for detail, Zu admits he has never used any type of magnifying tool while working on his pieces. He jokingly adds that he's selective with the number of carvings he produces only to prevent blindness.

Seeing is believing when focusing on Zu's carvings. It's his attention to detail that captures the viewer's attention.

Zu Liang, of Mortroeville, cowboyzu I @ yahoo, com.

PA, can be reached at

An assortment from Zu Liang's personal collection of matchstick carvings. 42 • Creative Woodworks & Crafts August 2003

Commissioned for a wedding, these match-stick carvings grace the top of a cork which had been inserted into a champagne glass.