A Master Miniature Wood Carver from Ukraine
Vladimir Rusinov stands with some of his woodworking tools.
Introduction
Vladimir Rusinov was born February 20, 1960 in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. He attended secondary school #1 position in the Komsomolskij Zmiey district of the Kharkov region. He also took a correspondence course through the Moscow Folk University of Arts, majoring in graphic arts and painting with a specialty as a secondary school teacher. He served in the Soviet Army from 1979 to 1981.
Mr. Rusinov’s wood carving features highly dramatic and detailed relief scenes of people and animals in medium to smaller sizes, many honoring specific events from the past. He also builds larger cartoon-like, brightly colored sculptures for the entertainment of children.
Vladimir is married and has a son and daughter, plus two grandsons and a granddaughter. He now lives and works in Liman, Zmiev district, Kharkov region, Ukraine.
Wildlife and other natural themes are common in Mr. Rusinov’s small wood carvings.
One of many intricately carved wooden scenes crafted by Vladimir.
In His Own Words
The following responses were submitted by Vladimir Rusinov.
What inspired me to become a carver?
I grew up with just my mother, and all the school break times I spent at my grandmother’s house in the farm village. There were no kids to play with, only elderly people, so I had to find a way to entertain myself. That is how I encountered a nearby wood production plant where there was wood of different kinds with different grains and textures. I would run around and jump on these large tree trunks, imagining them as monsters. That is how my inseparable love for wood began and led to my lifelong profession.
When I was 13 I began my first carving lessons, but without any instructors. My first carvings were little smiling masks, funny and good. I never liked wicked characters. I did not have any special carving tools and was working with just a knife. I still remember that it was heavy and long.
I would paint the face masks with different colors. Then I understood that painting a tree is not needed. A tree already has a beautiful color and texture. The wood can be dark or light. In autumn when leaves fell from trees I liked to go for a walk in the forest and always played with leaves. I would collect the most beautiful ones and gave these bouquets to my friends.
I also observed that tree branches have beautiful knots and interlacements of fragments of twigs. To me they had a very beautiful appearance, looking like animals, people and birds. I began to hand saw (whip-saw) on a tree and to cut these little details on trees and branches. This was fantasy for me. They were also good and little.
Vladimir includes a wealth of detail in his work. Notice the veins in the horses’ faces.
This angle reveals more of the depth of Vladimir’s carving for some of his pieces.
I brought these fragments home and finished cutting them to the necessary form. Cutting became very interesting to me. My mother did not have money to purchase good tools for me; therefore, I went to study drawing in the children’s studio in the House of Culture in our small town. I began quickly to draw my future characters and heroes. My hands became stronger and more skilled; child’s fantasy becoming more adult-like.
A little boy passed into an adult world of feelings and understanding of the beauty around us. What I also learned is that chisels and knives must be very sharp, and thus are dangerous to children who are learning to carve. A teacher must always be alongside.
Vladimir at work on a substantial piece. Magnification is necessary when working with such small cuts.
Even the texture of fur is evident on this tiny carved feline.
How do I create my artworks in wood?
When I begin a new artwork I have to choose the type of wood, its size and carving layout, such as square or rectangle, vertical or horizontal, etc. Then, a sketch is made. It is very lengthy process because I make several alternatives, which may or may not include additional figures, details, overall combination, and even possible interior locations.
Then the sketch is made in 1:1 scale and transferred to the wood. Then comes the wood carving part, using many different tools. It is the longest and most laborious process. For some parts of the carving I need to use hand cutters, for others an electric powered Foredom flexible shaft grinder with high speed rotating cutters.
All of Mr. Rusinov’s carving is done by hand.
With a fingertip in the foreground for scale reference, this close-up illustrates just how fine the features have been made.
What are my thoughts about craftsmanship?
I believe that every person has hidden creative potential, fantasies, and talent with which we are able to impress people around us. It is sometimes even seen in children as young as 2 years of age, which I call genius. These signs and phenomena of craftsmanship are then acquired and perfected throughout a person’s whole life. Each year we gain some details and new skills, sometimes even without noticing it. Constant work, even in different genres, gathers what I call experience.
Vladimir has also spent time building larger carved wooden figures for a children’s rehabilitation center.
Vladimir applies some finishing touches to another wooden piece made for charity.
View more photos of Vladimir Rusinov’s intricate wood carving.
Additionally, see a list of some of Mr. Rusinov’s exhibitions and achievements.