Jim Brown
The PebbleCreek Woodcarvers Club is pleased to announce our 2024 Carver of the Year, Larry Matney. Larry has been a club member since 2017. In addition to being an accomplished woodcarver, qualifications for carver of the year are to be a member in good standing and to have contributed to the club. Larry has certainly fulfilled those requirements, having written numerous articles for the PebbleCreek Post, taught many classes, is in charge of the Beginner Woodcarving Classes, and he is our current president.
Larry is a Washington state native, and like many in the area, found himself working for Boeing. He elected to take a transfer to Denver, Colo., where he completed his career for Boeing. He and his wife, Diana, moved to PebbleCreek in 2017.
Larry has many interests and talents. Along with his woodcarving he is a very skilled photographer and has ventured into AstroPhotography. You may have seen his photographs as “Photo of the Month” in the Post from the Camera Club. He is also active in the local Astronomy Club and regularly holds “Star Parties” for local grade schools. Oh, yes, in his free time he takes guitar lessons.
It is difficult to pigeonhole Larry’s main carving interests. His carvings cover the spectrum from spoons, bowls, Kachinas, birds, flutes, and masks. There might be a slight leaning towards the Northwest Coastal Native American theme. His carvings are meticulously detailed and beautifully finished. He carves mainly with knives and chisels, many of which he makes himself.
Please join us in congratulating Larry on this well-deserved honor.