ANT Martin switched from driving trucks for carving sculptures out of wood some years ago and he has not looked back.
His latest works include everything from a platypus for Burnside Council to Matisse Dancers for a sculpture trail on Kangaroo Island.
Speaking of some of his recent work, Mr Martin said his warehouse was filled with both commissioned and personal projects.
“The platypus is just under four metres and then I’m creating a pelican and an owl,” he said.
The platypus follows the lizard Mr Martin created for the metropolitan council’s Constable Hyde Memorial Garden, with a nature playground constructed out of natural materials including Mr Martin’s red gum sculptures.
Mr Martin has also taken on a wombat project from the council, which was made by another sculptor and crafted from pine rather than red gum.
“I’m not sure what I am going to do with it,” he said.
“Pine is not good to work with, it’s too soft, it just does not have a good grain.”
With every project – big or small – Mr Martin sculptures follow the grain of the wood and much of his material is donated.
“I look at it and I just start to think about how to carve it, following the wood’s natural shape,” he said.
“With furniture it’s a bit different as I have got to work on angles and make sure everything is correct.
“I have done about 18 pieces this year, including a park bench, totem pole and a massive wooden dining table with a family crest carved into it.”
Some of these pieces are commissioned, while others are projects Mr Martin is interested to fit in when he can.
“I’m often doing six, seven projects at once.”
One of Mr Martin’s largest projects due for completion at the end of November is the Matisse Dancers, which were commissioned by a private developer on Kangaroo Island.
“There will be 12 in total and they will be placed in threes.
“The task for me will make sure they’re interlocking with each other.”
Mr Martin said the sculptures will be weighted down with concrete at the base and polished with a resin made to withstand the elements.
The dancers will be unveiled at the end of November before being loaded up and transported to the island to be set in place.
“We always get people passing us on the highways but before they like to just follow us and have a curious look at the sculpture we have on the back.”
