Incredibly realistic carved animals by Giuseppe Rumerio

Some time ago we introduced you to an artist who, inspired by nature and wildlife, managed to reproduce incredibly lifelike images of animals through pyrography. Nature also inspires the Italian sculptor Giuseppe Rumerio to create works so realistic that you wonder if those sculpted animals aren't going to move the next second. Rumerio is recognised as one of the world's greatest animal sculptors, which is why I thought I'd give him a few lines.

Giuseppe Rumerio lives and works in Ortisei, Val Gardena region in the Dolomites, Italy. Wood has been carved in this region for hundreds of years, so it was hard for little Giuseppe to stay away from this art, as he was fascinated by the way the old craftsmen worked. At 14 he became an apprentice, taking his first steps on the path of art under the supervision of a recognised craftsman. Since then he has worked continuously. He set up his own workshop and with the guy he had apprentices. Now, at almost 70, he is a master sculptor and works alone. He says it's easier that way. He prefers to work everything himself, to get deep into his work without feeling pressure.

Inspiration comes from nature. That's where the animal images come from and the approach is always dynamic. The animals are sculpted running or in the throes of battle. His drawing skills help him a lot. Another source of inspiration are the French artists of the late 19th-early 20th century, whom he greatly admires.

But Rumerio doesn't just carve animals. He has an impressive catalogue of sacred sculpture, sculptural studies of the female body and other subjects. One of his studies for women is dedicated to supermodel Naomi Campbell.

Many of the sculptures are made to order, for old clients who keep coming back for more. He is used to working on several sculptures at the same time. That way, as he moves from one to another, he can see any mistakes or mismatches. Sometimes, however, he needs to concentrate on just one sculpture, and for a period of time he devotes himself solely to that one work. Only when he is convinced that the path is perfectly mapped out can he move on to others.

The wood he likes to work with most is pine, but he says any wood is good for carving. What he considers very important is that the wood is worked by hand, as this is the only way to carry on the tradition. Lately, many people have started to carve with machines, but a handmade work will always have the imprint of the maker, it will represent something special.

From the desire to preserve the tradition of hand carving in 1994, at the initiative of artists from the Val Gardena area, the UNIKA exhibition was born, where for 3 days the artists work in front of people, so that they can observe their qualities, see how the wood is gradually transformed into a work of art. It is the only time when admirers can ask questions and learn more about how the works are made. The exhibition awarded Giuseppe Rumerio the title of "Master Artist", the highest certification of his talent.