Meet Eric Garcia | WOOD CARVER/CHAINSAW ARTIST

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eric Garcia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eric, how does your business help the community?
I feel my art work brings joy to a lot of people that really appreciate art and the hand crafted custom work I do. I also will encourage people to do something with there tree to make a design out of it instead of . Taking it completely down. Some trees have history.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It started from when I was working in a tree service. We’re working in the backyard in Chino Hills at somebody’s house and I passed by a tiki stared at it for a couple minutes and told myself I could do this like many other Carvers. It wasn’t easy trying to make a hobby into profession I pursued it also because there wasn’t much competition. I I had an interest in doing tattoos but once I got a chainsaw and started doing the sculpturing I never touched the tattoo machine. I felt strongly that I wanted to make a career out of something I love doing. Everyone’s always told me I had a talent for art and encouraged me to keep going I put it aside for a while to take care of my kids working in warehouses and other jobs. Eventually I got into an art gallery with the Pomona Valley Art Association started networking more with other artists. And also had the confidence of knowing I could do anything with the chainsaw. My first biggest job was with the city of Ontario after networking for so long my name finally got out there and have been making a living off of this for quite some time now raising a family. I kept getting better and better and took any challenge that came my way. All I want everybody to know is how much I love doing what I do I do give my glory to God for the talent that he has given me and I enjoy the expression that I see on people’s faces when the sculptures are finally finished .that’s what keeps me going the most knowing that I made something for somebody to be happy looking at in their yard. Or knowing that that sculpture I did for them really meant something to them like as a memorial I might have done, like a dog of theirs or symbol of somebody that had passed away that they love so deeply. The only thing that I feel set me apart from the rest is because I am Mexican American grown up in Southern California and came from the streets and made something out of myself at this time .

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would say one of my favorite places I worked at was in Escondido wasn’t too far from Carlsbad where I stayed for a week. it was quite therapeutic experience at the time being by myself. I would walk down the ocean at night after the job and in the morning before I went to the job. I would love to work out there again. Also one of my favorite places which I have taken many people to is Wrightwood California. The people up there have shown love in what I do and also everyone’s so friendly up there one of the places I want to end up living For the Rest of My Life. Also one of my goals is to be able to have my own yard out there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I just want to shout out all the customers that have given me the most support out of anybody even my own family recently a guy didn’t want to pay me for a job .One of my old customers (Raymond) heard about it and wanted to vouch for me for my rent money so I ended up doing a sculpture for him instead and help me out greatly .I get a lot of support from my customers and the community people enjoy my work and for the past 6 years has become Word of Mouth. Also would like to give a shout out to my friend (Dwayne ) he was the one that encouraged me the most to get started on this hobby which is now my full-time job. Oh and another customer of mine named Liz found out when I had to move out of the house I was living in offered me a room.I fell so blessed to have this God given talent . It has help me socially ,financially and has gotten me out of some life situations.

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