Oleg Krotko wood carver
Oleg Krotko the craftsman
I’ve been woodcarving since I was a kid. My friends and I would often compete to see who could make the best sword, or shield, or whatever other stuff boys are obsessed with, and sometimes I would trade the items I made for other toys I wanted.
The small town I lived in had its own old woodcarving master and he taught me a lot of what I know, so much so, that I sold my first work – a bust of Archimedes – when I was 12 years old. I’m pretty proud of that to this day, although sometimes I wish I had kept it as a keepsake from my childhood work.
These days, in my studio, I create everything from beautiful frames to elaborate pictures of landscapes and animals. A few years ago, I carved my very first realistic portrait, and since then, portraits have become an essential part of my work; I currently offer to create custom portraits to order, and there’s also a whole portrait collection in the works! I only work with high-quality wood to create detailed, imaginative, and long-lasting works.
I never use chemicals to seal the wood – only non-toxic antique wax – which protects the artwork, but also lets the quality of the wood and craftsmanship speak for itself.
I love to share my work with others and to give back to the community that supports me and my passion! From 2004 to 2010 I offered lessons and workshops to students of all levels and I also released a DVD tutorial for beginners, so that everyone interested in woodworking can have a chance to try their hand at it.
I am also proud to be in collaboration with a local Cancer Association and often donate my work so that they can auction it off for a great cause.
Oleg Krotko
wood carver