Rory Alvarez Folk Art, Woodcarvings By Rory Alvarez, Carvings by Rory Alvarez

I was born in the San Francisco bay area and lived there most of my adult life. I worked as a truck

driver in the bay area close to 15 years.

In 1983, I went to Santa Fe, New Mexico to visit family, and decided to leave the trucking

experience and realized I could make a living in art, now residing in Rio Rancho, NM.

During my developing stages of woodcarving, I found my own UNIQUE style as a woodcarver.

My carvings are contemporary; however, one might call my style as humorous, conversational,

whimsical, cartoonish look of art. I carve my pieces by hand (use spruce, white and sugar pine woods).

Each carving, for example, has 11 to 24 body parts or more.

I try not only create my own style, but character and personality were inserted in my animals.

I not only wanted to create my animals so unique, but also in the painting of the sculptures in which

it has also become my "trademark". My wife, Ruby, helps me paint.

“I really enjoy my work as it allows me to use my imagination and creativity on my woodcarvings.

I’m always exploring for new ideas to improve my techniques and make it a style all my own, making

it my trademark.” I give God the glory as he has given me this wonderful gift.

Description and Process

1^st day: I start with a block of wood, by laminating the body. I use a band saw to cut out all my pieces,

which later I diagram all my pieces to the body to each individual piece need to be cut to the body.

Then I cut the body areas to which the pieces need to fit after grinding and sanding each individual

piece.

2nd day: I assemble each piece using a wood glue and screws, then I make a special paste to fill in all the

joints

to sculpt, contour or give definition to shoulders, arms or wherever is needed to contour the body to

give the life to my animals, and then

3^rd day: I sand and buff by hand till smooth and paint.

My work is NOT massed produced.