Talented Dalton Ghetti works as a carpenter, but in his spare time carves intricate art into pencils. Some pieces take two and half years to complete.
‘At school I would carve a friend’s name into the wood of a pencil and then give it to them as a present.
‘Later, when I got into sculpture, I would make these huge pieces from things like wood, but decided I wanted to challenge myself by trying to make things as small as possible.
‘I experimented sculpting with different materials, such as chalk, but one day I had an eureka moment and decided to carve into the graphite of a pencil.’ Dalton uses three basic tools to make his incredible creations – a razor blade, sewing needle and sculpting knife.
He even refuses to use a magnifying glass and has never sold any of his work, only given it away to friends.
Daily Mail
The saw is my absolute favorite.
23. August 2010 at 9:50 am
You know how easy it is to break a pencil lead! No wonder all the pencils are nubs by the time he finishes
amazing
23. August 2010 at 9:51 am
I didn’t even think of that!
Can’t imagine working on the tip of a pencil for 2 years… the man’s got patience.
23. August 2010 at 10:21 am
seriously though, it looks like he starts with well loved and used nubbins – for character or maybe the whole recycle – repurpose – reuse thing? i was really just noting the skill and patience (insanity?) it takes to work with such a brittle medium, and maybe being just a little bit of a smart ass
23. August 2010 at 10:27 am
The article states that he uses pencils given him by others, so many really are nubs when he starts. And he gives them away! Wow.
23. August 2010 at 10:30 am
wow
amazing
also, someone has too much time on their hands
23. August 2010 at 10:49 am
Amazing! I guess everyone needs a hobby. I wish mine ended up being half as creative.
23. August 2010 at 10:52 am
Dude’s gotta be a “regular” at the Medical Marijuana Pharmacy & Head Shop.
23. August 2010 at 1:21 pm
Good god! I’m impressed! Especially by the carpenter’s pencil carved into a saw. If you look closely, the handle’s “rivets” are graphite dots showing through the pencil wood of the handle.
23. August 2010 at 3:23 pm
I love it because it looks just like my Dad’s old saw.
23. August 2010 at 7:50 pm
Mr Ghetti has made about 100 carvings, and is currently on an epic piece inspired by the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
He said: ‘When September 11 happened I was in tears all day and couldn’t do much for a while.
‘I decided to make a teardrop pencil carving for each of the people who died in the attack, about 3,000.
‘Since 2002 I have carved one every day, it takes me under an hour.
‘When I’m done they will form one big tear drop. It will take me about 10 years but it will be worth it.
That just renders me speechless…
23. August 2010 at 7:54 pm
Oh, my gosh.
23. August 2010 at 8:17 pm
On 9/11/2001 I was working on an oak fireplace mantel. It took me three times as long as it should have to do it as the days after the attack played out. My concentration was nil, and on the day they broadcast the National Orchestra playing its tribute, their rendition of Barber’s Adagio brought me to tears.
This is from Britain’s tribute a few days later:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV3SHBFyDZM
The mantel became a time capsule tribute to the victims of 9/11. I never told the homeowner. Only I know that and where it is but that doesn’t really matter.
24. August 2010 at 9:46 am
What a beautiful, haunting piece!
That gave me chills…
24. August 2010 at 12:46 am
Wow.
24. August 2010 at 8:36 pm
Wow! That would go over big with my former employer. I wonder if Ripley’s has contacted him.
25. August 2010 at 8:30 am
Good idea, Joan!