Carsten Nilsson

Woodcarver

Holding a mirror to Swedish folk art

Carsten captures detail by making thousands of cuts in wood
He became a skilled carver after starting to build kitchens
His work has sparked huge interest

Carsten Nilsson is one of only a few woodcarvers in Sweden. His craft demands skills in shaping objects as well as a deep understanding of the material. He mostly carves in limewood, which may not be the most durable of materials, but it suits the stunning mirror frames that Carsten makes, which are intended to be hung on walls. Over the last 24 years he has developed both his own expression and technique. A trained carpenter, Carsten primarily focuses on ornament carving and decoration in wood, and the way he creates small figurines is remarkable. He has a steadily growing number of customers waiting for his colourful, quirky, unique frames with figures, flowers, nature and unexpected symbols.

Interview

Do you always paint your pieces?: Yes, always. I use limewood for most of my objects, a soft and wonderful material that is easy to carve into. But I find the surface of the wood quite ordinary, so it needs some kind of colour. The motif is so much more visible and alive when painted.
How did your career start?: I started building kitchens at a small firm. I was spending my days drilling in chipboard, so working with my hands has always been my focus. But from there my artistic expression took over and I wanted to explore that side of me more.
Where do you find inspiration?: Since I work from my studio, which is situated in Hammenhög in the south east of Sweden close to panoramic landscapes and nature, I would say the forest and natural decoration such as leaves and details in the greenery. But I also enjoy carving symbols of the circus or the carnival.
What might your customers not realise about your work?: As a woodcarver you work with both your hands, so a right handed person needs to be just as skilled with their left hand, and vice versa. I’ve gotten to master that over the years.

Carsten Nilsson is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1994