Artist

Pieces of Wood

Posted at May 29, 2008 15:55

By Laura L. Valenti

MANY A CURE has been recommended
for high blood pressure, but perhaps none
has produced more beautiful results than the
hobby Vic Eckmann took up at his doctor’s
behest, which was woodworking.

“The stress of farming had my blood
pressure up too high. My doctor told me I
should find a relaxing hobby, and that got me
started in woodworking about fifteen years
ago,” says Vic, standing in his workshop just
outside of Lebanon.

Now a retired farmer, Vic creates intricate
pictures in wood. He fits different types
of wood into sometimes simple, sometimes
truly exquisite pieces of art.

“Each color in the design is a separate piece
of wood. Finding the woods is the hard part,”
Vic says. “The walnut, maple, oak, and the
cedars are not so hard to come by, but the butternut,
aspen, and catalpa are often difficult
to find. Still, I prefer to use the natural woods
rather than do any staining of the wood.”

While his workshop has a wood stove, Vic
often works without the benefit of the heat.
“Heating up the stove changes the wood,” he
says. “It makes it expand, and when you’re
sawing something that fine, even a little bit
of a change means a lot.”

Vic’s works are traveling far from his home
in southwest Missouri, carrying his reputation
throughout the state and region. Wild
turkeys are one of Vic’s favorite subjects; he
is an active member of the National Wild
Turkey Federation. In 2006, he and his wife,
Sue, traveled to the organization’s national
convention in Nashville. They brought along
pieces depicting a jake, which is a young male
turkey, and the NWTF logo. Vic also makes
trophies for Bennett Spring’s local Hillbilly
Days competitions, held each year the third
weekend in June.

“I have a craft booth at Hillbilly Days,”
Vic says, “but with time constraints, I don’t
do other craft shows.”

Vic works part time at the nearby Bennett
Spring Trout Hatchery, where he spends most
weekends caring for and stocking hundreds
of trout in the park’s fishing stream. He may
not have the time to travel, but people are
literally beating a path to his door to commission
his works in advance or to buy something
he has already made. Currently, his
wooden pieces of art have found homes and
offices in Texas, Tennessee, South Dakota,
Virginia, and Illinois as well as Missouri.

Vic’s favorite piece, Hidden Forest, hangs
in his own living room. It is a forest portrait
that depicts tall trees and various forest animals,
including a raccoon, tree frog, lizard,
and deer. It is comprised of nine hundred
pieces of wood, and it took more than five
years to complete.

Whether it is the complicated pattern
found in Hidden Forest or the simple beauty
seen in one of his latest, such as Mother with
Child, Vic Eckmann’s art in wood leaves a
lasting impression with the viewer.

Just as importantly, Vic’s doctor was correct.
His blood pressure is back down to
where it should be.
Call 417-532-6418 for more information.

October 2007

 

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