Pam Maneeratana uses fruits and vegetables as her canvases.
Kae-Sa-Luk, the Thai art of carving fruits and vegetables, was the only way she knew to make money when she moved to the United States 33 years ago.
“I learned cooking, cleaning and sewing. I don’t think they ever taught me math,” said Pam Maneeratana, a Kae-Sa-Luk master.
Maneeratana taught a workshop to about eight people at the Alachua County Headquarters Library on Saturday.
Travis Fristoe, the Alachua County Library District programming liaison, said Maneeratana was unique, her resume was stellar and there were no questions about her abilities.
“She’s an ideal guest, and we are lucky to have her here,” Fristoe said.
Maneeratana teaches a variety of people how to find inspiration in fruits and vegetables by picturing an image and working with a knife.
“You will never look at a produce stand the same again,” she said.
Maneeratana said she never makes anything traditional. She began learning to carve in middle school, where women were forced to learn it, she said.
“I was a very bad student,” she said. “After I passed the class, I never touched a knife again until I moved to the United States when I was 28. Carving was a start in this country, but it was different. This time, carving gave me peace.”
Maneeratana said she likes to find pumpkins with different shapes or that look unusual.
She said carving is like meditation.
“You focus and concentrate really hard on one thing — or one fruit or vegetable — at a time. It’s relaxing,” she said. “You want to concentrate with your knife and feel every time it goes through.”
Maneeratana said beginners should use a variety of fruits and vegetables and keep their natural colors and textures.
“Nothing is perfect on the first time. Whenever you force yourself to make it perfect, you ruin it. Do things by nature — have a free spirit,” she said.
Maneeratana said confidence is a must when creating carved art.
“Be confident in your carving,” she said. “If something goes wrong, remember it’s just a vegetable. But if you are reluctant, you will ruin it.”
Maneeratana said she began carving the cheapest fruits and vegetables and after some time just became interested in what each one had inside.
“You have to know your fruits and vegetables,” she said.
Maneeratana’s book, “Messages Found with the Carving Knife,” is available for checkout at the Alachua County Library. The book shows a variety of fruit and vegetable designs paired with philosophical quotes that correlate to how Maneeratana feels while she creates her art.
Amelia Lugones, 9, said Maneeratana made her feel inspired to try the art.
“I don’t know what design I’ll do, but I will check out her book,” Lugones said.
Kae-Sa-Luk Master Pam Maneeratana, 60, shows off her book, 'Messages Found with the Carving Knife', during a carving demonstration at the Alachua County Headquarters Library on Saturday. Maneeratana was trained by an instructor from the Royal Palace in Thailand as a child and has been carving professionally for over 30 years.
