A Conversation with Garden Artist George Carruth
Creator of Garden Smiles in Waterville Ohio Talks About Sculpting
Dec 18, 2008 Christine Eirschele
Carruth Studio is celebrating their 25th anniversary. Garden Smiles has been made popular by the well-known stone-carved trademark of a smiling face framed with leaves, a resting cricket and ladybug beauty mark. This whimsical styled garden art, by sculptor George Carruth, is a recognizable favorite of gardeners throughout the United States and around the world.
During a recent conversation with Suite101, George Carruth talked about his style of sculpting and why he loves what he does.
Q. What influences and inspiration do you attribute to making Carruth Studio and Garden Smiles possible?
A. “I grew up in Perrysburg, Ohio, along the Maumee River. After graduating from the College of Art and Design in Columbus, I returned to the Toledo and Cleveland areas. I think I get my love of water and nature from these places.”
“In 1980, while working for American Greeting Card Company, I would visit the Lake Erie’s shores. It is here I first saw caricatures being etched on the sandstone boulders lining the beaches. This experience gave me the inspiration for sculpting in stone. ”
“But over the next few years, while sculpting small stones and prototypes, it was my wife, Deb, who signed me up to sell at craft shows and encouraged me to make a pitch to a wholesale catalogue. It is Cat Birdbath that eventually landed on the cover. One year later we began Carruth Studio Incorporated in Waterville, Ohio. Deb’s personable personality and enthusiasm is what has made my work known to others.”
Q. What has been your favorite garden sculpture and why?
“My most successful piece is the Garden Smile face. I like to do faces the most and then add botanical touches to create some whimsy. People seem to enjoy that.”
“My most honored commission is the one I have with the Washington National Cathedral. I sculpt small pieces capturing scenes from the Cathedral walls and stained glass. I recently discovered my favorite place in the Cathedral's attic where I found stored original plaster art molds left by past artists.”
Q. What are your future plans for your sculpting at Carruth Studio?
A. “We have good Internet success and we are making licensing plans with a candle company. I recently collaborated on three children’s books with my daughter. Other than that, I want to keep sculpting.”
”If left alone, I really am a self-contained hermit, preferring to sculpt with my dental tools sitting in a comfortable chair or to be out in nature near water.”
“I get my most joy from people who tell us their stories. There was a boy who sent us a photo of our garden statue, Todd Wartsmith on a saucer. He told us that one day he saw a real frog sitting next to the frog statue. For days, each time he tried to take the picture, the frog would hop away. Finally, the frog stayed and he snapped the picture. I love to hear about this kind of stuff.”
“Feel good products to make people smile, that is my greatest satisfaction.”
Carruth Studio and Garden Smiles
Carruth Studio and Garden Smiles are located in Waterville, in the northwestern corner of Ohio. The studio is open for tours January through October; reservations are required.
Permission received for all photos used in this article.
Garden Artist and Sculptor George Carruth
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Cat Bird Bath Sculpted by George Carruth
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Washington Cathedral Nativity Lights by Carruth
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Frog StatueTodd Wartsmith
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Garden Smile Art
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