From wood to a work of art – a portrait of a sculptor.

Lukas has been fascinated by woodcarving ever since he was a child. You could say it was in his blood from the very start, thanks to his father, Christian Pittl, a larven carver (mask carver). Surrounded by his father’s passion and hobby – carving knives, wood and masks – Lukas grew up amidst them. Both he and his father, Christian, are keen carnival enthusiasts. It is therefore no coincidence that many of the figures in the Mils Carnival wear masks crafted by the Pittl family. Masks by the Pittl family adorn the figures of the Tyrolean carnival not only in their home village of Mils but also beyond the municipal boundaries. It was through carving masks for the carnival celebrations that Lukas began his journey to becoming an established Tyrolean sculptor.

In his late twenties, Lukas decided to follow his calling. He gave up his trained profession and devoted himself entirely to woodcarving. He completed his three-year training at the ‘Geisler-Moroder’ woodcarving and sculpture school in Elbigenalp with distinction. For over three years, he perfected his craft at the school. Today, Lukas teaches courses there himself and passes on his knowledge to those interested.

When work is a pleasure, life becomes a joy. (Maxim Gorky, 1868–1936) Lukas acted precisely in accordance with this principle when he gave up his job to pursue his passion. The young artist looks back on the decision he made with satisfaction. He has no regrets. Working as a sculptor and artist, as well as the creative process behind his works, makes him happy. Sometimes Lukas only works on his pieces for a short while. On other days, he spends the whole day in his studio. His work doesn’t always come as easily to him every day.

In Lukas’s studio, he doesn’t work exclusively with wood. His repertoire also includes sculptures made of marble, steel and concrete. However, the young sculptor prefers to work with wood. It is not at all uncommon for Lukas to come across a root whilst out walking that provides him with a suitable raw material for a piece. There are no limits to the variety of materials he uses. His artistic range extends from classical, traditional works such as a crucifix, a carnival mask or a biblical sculpture, right through to modern and abstract artworks. His ability to distil the essence of his subjects and his skill in working with lines are among his strengths in all his works. It is important to Lukas that the viewer can sense the emotion embodied in his works. They are intended to inspire reflection.

90 per cent of the artworks are made from Swiss stone pine. The wood smells lovely, is soft and is very easy to work with. Despite the relatively high number of knots, Lukas enjoys working with Swiss stone pine. Sometimes the wood seems to work with him. For example, knots that happen to appear in places where they look perfectly positioned. One drawback of Swiss stone pine, however, is that it tends to darken quickly. This can, however, be counteracted by a mixture of Swiss stone pine oil and oil paint. Lukas sources the wood for his artworks from local forests.

It is more than just a material. It is a way of life – or rather, his way of life.

Most of the works are commissioned pieces. A wide variety of Lukas’s works can be admired and purchased at his studio in Mils. There are no set opening hours. The door is always open, says the artist. He looks forward to visitors and company in his studio.