Maianbar’s John Dublewicz has won the best woodcarving category at the Royal Easter Show for his work Gecko Hall, a carving of silky oak depicting eight lizards on a log.
The judges also awarded the work the Standard of Excellence purple ribbon which is given works that are the best of the best in their category.
It was only the second time Mr Dublewicz has exhibited at the Royal Easter Show. He came second last year for his carving of a stingray.
A part-time PE teacher, Mr Dublewicz is a self-taught woodcarver.
“I started about 15 years ago after I finished building my house,” he said.
“I started off very naive, doing simple pieces but over the years the work has become very complicated.”
His Royal Easter Show winning piece shows eight lizard of silky oak springing out of a beefwood log.
The lizards are moveable on hinges or held in place by a magnet.
“I tried to make this piece look alive and I think I’ve done that,” he said.
Each lizard has a secret compartment.
“People are fascinated by secret compartments,” he said. “They can open it up and look inside the carving at the pattern and richness and texture of the timber.
“If I use a red gum burl it is red inside and quite well-textured. It can be patterned like a jewel.”
Last year, a woman was so fascinated by his work that she bought up all his carvings that were on exhibition at the Wanda Stafford Gallery at Bundeena.
This led to an invitation for him to stage an exhibition of his works next year in Shanghai.
Mr Dublewicz said that Gecko Hall was the hardest piece of work he had done.
“It was done completely from imagination,” he said.
“Woodcarving requires a keen eye, a steady, creativity and a good imagination.
“If I see an interesting piece of timber it will tell me what it wants to become.”
