#knowyourbenoni – Northmead resident hooked on his hobby
Northmead resident Byron Brazier (35) is a vehicle instrumentation technician, but what he ‘wood’ love to do for a living is carve fish because that is his passion.
BCT: Tell us about your carving journey.
BB: As a seven-year-old I started making cut-outs of fish from paper and foam.
When I turned 10, my parents – Alan and Leigh Brazier – signed me up for wood carving classes and that is where my interest really took off.
BCT: What inspired you to carve fish?
BB: I have always had a love for fish and woodwork so incorporating the two seemed like the logical thing to do.
Seeing a fish take shape and come to ‘life’ is rewarding; I also find the slow, methodical process to be relaxing and therapeutic.
In 1999, while browsing the internet, I came across a website promoting master wood carvers in the USA who specialised in replicas of fish.
Looking at their work I knew that I had to learn the techniques and acquire the correct tools and consumables to create the quality work I wanted to produce.
I began my apprenticeship with master carver, Tom Wolf, after matriculating in 2000.
BCT: Tell us about yourself.
BB: I am the eldest son of Alan and Leigh.
I attended St Dunstan’s from Grade One to Grade 10 and finished my matric in 2000 at the Benoni Technical College.
I studied ichthyology (study of fish) at Bircham International University and got my diploma in 2009.
My fiancé Vicky De Pontes and I have been together for almost seven years.
BCT: What other hobbies do you have?
BB: I also restore old wooden furniture, but fish are my passion.
I love scuba diving and enjoy travelling and exploring new places of interest, museums and being in nature.
BCT: What are your plans?
BB: I am working on a large show piece for the next Breakthrough World Taxidermy and Fish Carving Championship to be held in 2018 in the USA
My short-term dream is to attend this show and earn first place in the Open Warm Water Game Fish Category.
My long-term goal is to be able to do my wood work replicas full-time and offer classes to teach others who may be interested in learning the fine art of wood carving.
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