Slow down, relax, and take a moment to enjoy Wood You Mind's handmade sculptures

Originally from Bangkok, these days Parn lives in Texas. And from his quiet home studio, he has been silently carving whimsical statues out of blocks of wood since 2019. Loosely based on drawings he makes on paper, these brightly painted statues retain a sense of childish charm that has earned him legions of admirers.

It's no surprise that a youthful innocence runs through his work. Parn tells Creative Boom that he used to feel peaceful as a kid when drawing and using his imagination. "I still get that feeling now," he explains. "And carving is just one medium that I experiment with. I also work with paper crafts, ceramics and resin. They're all fun."

Wooden figure with purple hat and flowing scarf riding a large yellow pencil with a rainbow-striped backpack, hand-carved and painted by Wood You Mind

Six handcarved wooden bear sculptures in blue, orange, purple, pink, yellow and white, arranged on a wooden display block

Hand-carved wooden sculpture by Wood You Mind featuring a girl with brown hair, white rabbits and a blue whale-like creature arranged in a row, with a colourful paintbrush sprouting ribbons above

Wood carving is what Parn is best known for, though, with nearly 130 thousand people following his creations on Instagram. This appears to suit Parn fine, as he naturally gravitates towards working with wood. "Wood carving matches how I like to communicate," he reveals. "It's all about taking things out, being imperfect, and letting go."

Indeed, it's the handmade approach that makes Parn's work stand out. In an industry that can sometimes get hung up on perfection, the 'flaws' in his sculptures only serve to make them more endearing. Who couldn't fall in love with a hand-sculpted fox or a group of uniquely carved bears?

Working by hand does more than give Parn's sculptures a sense of personality. It also suits his lifestyle. "I use hand tools because I live in an apartment, so I can't make too much noise," he says. "But using hand tools teaches me about effort and mindfulness. It also reminds me not to rush and remain calm."

Hand-carved wooden sculpture by Wood You Mind featuring a figure with an orange head and voluminous pale layered body, displayed on a wooden shelf

Wooden sculpture of a yellow giraffe with orange spots holding up a small figure with a blue hat on a wooden base

Hand-carved wooden figure with pink pom-pom hair standing atop a blue and white polka-dot whale sculpture

Wooden carved figurine of an orange cat with pointed ears and a raised tail, standing on a green base against a white textured wall

Parn's carvings have a curious consistency to them while also remaining unique. Sculptures of flowers and rainbows easily sit comfortably next to rabbits and a rainbow with a face. And when thinking of what to carve, he gets his ideas from everywhere. "The places I go, the shows I watch, my memories," he says. "Then I combine these sources with my imagination."

But before he starts whittling away, Parn usually draws a rough sketch of his characters on paper. "It's mostly an improvisation." Elements of these drawings are then carried over into the carving process. "I let other things happen while I carve. I call this 'letting the present do its work.'

"My creative process is very spontaneous. It's kind of like a kid's drawing. Often, it does not need to have a deep meaning or an epic message. I try to carve very normally."

Wooden sculpture of a small figure with purple hair holding a red lollipop, perched on the neck of a yellow giraffe, on a light wooden base

A wooden sculpture by Wood You Mind depicting a stylised figure with red hair sitting atop a blue whale, displayed on a wooden shelf

Wooden sculpture of a child's face with a red cherry-shaped head on a wooden block, with a green leaf and another cherry suspended above

Whimsical wooden sculpture by Wood You Mind featuring a character with a colourful striped shell-like body and extended arms, mounted on a wooden base with pencils

Just as there's no set route from concept to completion, Parn's work rate varies from sculpture to sculpture. "I'm not sure how quickly I make them," he adds. "Some take a lot of time. Since I started making them in 2019, I have made around 1,200 pieces so far."

If you're a fan of Parn's work and want to learn more about his creative practice, you're in luck. He's scheduled to appear at this year's Pictoplasma Conference in New York, which runs from the 26 October. "I will be talking about my working process, routine and work plan," Parn concludes.