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“Hi! My name is Supachaya Jantan, but you can call me 'Lar' if you choose. I was born and raised in a little town in the San Kamphaeng District, where a group of experienced craftsmen still practice Lanna wood carving.
“I have six brothers and sisters. Two of my brothers used to do wood carving when I was a kid, but I just started learning to create when I was 30. I began working immediately after finishing grade nine. I did general contract labor like sewing and trading.
“I've been interested in wood carving since childhood, learning from my older brother and other village craftspeople. It took me a couple of years to carve and sell an elephant's head. When I understood that if I merely carved and sold, my income would be based on my diligence and competence, I decided to become a seller who crafts herself and hires other artisans. In 2007, I opened my shop at the Night Bazaar and moved to sell at the weekend night market in Chiang Mai. I operated a tree business near my house during the pandemic.
“A mistake led to the day I decided to paint a wooden elephant. The wood on an elephant's back was cracked. I used to dye with ebony, which is gorgeous but can't hide imperfections, so I tried acrylic and had a painter make a traditional royal outfit, which sold extremely well.
“I handle most of the process, including quality control, coat preparation, waxing, and polishing. My village is home to two painters and a large number of woodworkers. Every component must go through my hands. I occasionally enhance it by adding eyes, embellishing, and brushing for the painter. After brushing, dyeing, washing and quality control it is sent to a painter, who will then quality check it again before waxing and polishing. One piece might pass through my hands 4-5 times.
“My plans include expanding my shop while waiting for Chiang Mai to reopen to tourists. And I'm hoping that Novica's customers will enjoy my products. Thank you very much!”
The shelves are empty for now.Every piece Supachaya makes is one of a kind, and they've all found homes. Follow to be first to see the next collection. Follow Supachaya.
