Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Rangel.
Hi Robert, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As a child growing up in the Valley on my Grandfathers Ranch, I used to sculpt animals and people out of the clay dirt when it rained. I was always looking for something to build or create. My mother played a large role in expanding my creativity and bought me just about every book I asked for. This along with a lot of art supplies such as paints, canvas, sketchbooks, etc. Reaching into Jr High School my art teacher Mr. Rigo Garza was another person that pushed my creativity. He introduced me to Woodburning and expanded on my “clay” modeling and painting skills. I remember being assigned the task of painting anything we wanted. I came in with a Black and White picture of a Whitetail Buck and was trying to figure out in my mind how I would convert it into color. I asked him for advice, he told me why don’t you just paint him in just like the picture, in Black and White. Looking back now that was such a simple answer and my painting could not have turned out better. Fast forward to my adult years and my job took me out of the RGV and moved me to San Antonio. I was looking for a hobby and was always interested in Wood Carving. I found a local club and joined it. When I showed up to my first meeting, then Club President Bob Tilton asked me what I was interested in carving. I told him i wanted to carve faces in wood. He proceeded to carve on a small block of wood and within 10 minutes had a face carved. I knew then that I was hooked for life. Bob Tilton has been another very inspiring person to me as he was able to see the fire in my eye and kept pushing me to do better. A few months and he suggested I should compete at the Texas Woodcarvers Guild annual show. I did and won Best of Novice which is the highest prize you can achieve at that level. The very next year I also won Best of Intermediate. Since then I have become the current President of the Alamo Area Woodcarvers Club which was founded in 1974. I still compete, teach and hold the position of Show Chair for the Texas Woodcarvers Guild. I am still fully employed and oversee about 70 employees in my region of responsibility. Woodcarving is a very good way to relieve stress and bring so much joy to me. It is just so satisfying to start with a piece of wood and create an image you have in your mind. Although some carvers dread the task of painting their carvings, I enjoy it just as much. I think the biggest thrill is when I paint the eyes because at that moment for me, my carving has personality and comes to life. I can say with certainty that I will keep pushing to keep this great art of Wood Carving alive, both through teaching my skills to whoever takes an interest and through our membership in our club.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I took to woodcarving like a fish to water, it comes pretty easy, but I have also spent time with a lot of people that have carved longer than I have. I also spent long hours carving every evening after work and on the weekends. I have always said that it does not matter if you have been carving for 20 years, what matters is how many hours in those years you carved. Just like anything else, you have to practice, practice, practice if you are going to get better. Being open to constructive criticism is a must. In a competition, I take the time to ask the judges to critique my work in an effort to better my skills. It might be I needed smoother knife cuts, or my paint might not have blended correctly. In any case, I take their observations and work on improving on them.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am fully employed for 30+ years now by a non-hazardous liquid waste company. I hold the title of Regional Vice President and oversee operations for South Texas which includes sites in Austin, Houston, Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio. I began my career as a truck driver and at 27 was promoted to supervisor. At the age of 32, I was given another promotion as Division Manager and relocated from the Rio Grande Valley to San Antonio. Throughout my career I have focused on instilling great work ethic values amongst my team, resulting in promoting some of my team members, drivers and office personnel to become leaders in my region and take on positions of management. Some of my team members relocated to other sites within the company such as El Paso and my then Office Manager took a position as Branch Operations Manager in the Rio Grande Valley where she excelled at.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I have always said that you can’t get bored in San Antonio, you just have to spend your money. I would say what I like best about San Antonio is its history. I never get tired of visiting all the Missions, I love them so much that I have two of them tattooed on my arm. Coming from a simple upbringing the faster pace was something I wasn’t too thrilled about. It has been a great city for me overall and I raised my kids on the North-East side of town with no complaints. The schools gave them a great education so overall, I have no regrets ever moving to this great city.
Contact Info:
- Email: robthewoodcarver@yahoo.com
- Website: alamoareawoodcarvers.com
- Instagram: rob_the_woodcarver
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Rob-The-Woodcarver-110850107476523
Image Credits
Robert Rangel
