Luis Vergara was born in Chile, in the year 1961, in the beautiful city of Valparaiso. As a young boy he had a special gift for the arts. In school, Luis’ teachers pointed him out in his artistic talents. He drew and painted every single day. It didn’t take much for him to start selling his works to his classmates.
Luis helped his older brother with some woodcarvings as a young man. Those were his first years starting to work with wood, considering he was used to drawing and painting.
A few years later, at age 18, Luis began to study art in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Chile. Here he studied many years with talented professors and learned many new ways to develop his talents.
Years later, he met Natalia, his wife. She has always been his most important influence in his woodcarving career, with an incredible vision of what he can accomplish.
“Today, my wife and family are the biggest supportI have to be able to dedicate all my time on this beautiful art.”
-Luis Vergara
In the year of 2000, Luis and his family came to the United States of America. Here, Luis found everything necessary to be able to further develop his talents focusing on woodcarving.
The beginning of his life with wood started with little resources. He worked with a pair of chisels that his brother had given him, and pieces of wood that he acquired at the woodcarving stores. He used a small area of 3’ by 7’ in his kitchen to work.
“I love wood; the color, the aroma, texture, and knowing the origin. I enjoy mixing different kinds of woods in one project.”
-Luis Vergara
He is passionate for everything that relates to the American Native culture, their beliefs, wars, hunting of the buffalo, and customs. He especially likes their way of dressing; filled with feathers and different colors. Before carving each peace, Luis has to do his research and study the history of the individuals his about to carve.
Luis is also attracted to the culture of Native Africans, fantasy personages, the circus, and theatre from the literature of William Shakespeare. All different types of materials go into his art work as well, not just wood. Some of these include: copper, bronze, gold, silver, leather, marble, rocks, bones, acrylic, shells, and incrusting of different exotic elements.
After a lifetime of being dedicated to art, in where 12 of those years have been dedicated to wood carving, Luis thinks to himself: “Each day I only think of my next project, and that this one needs to be better then the one before”. No matter what, he is always anxious to finish his projects to show his friends and family.
“If You Can Dream It, I Can Carve It”
– Vergara Designs Logo
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