Putu

Putu and her family live in an idyllic village called Tegelalang which is located north of Ubud in the centre of Balihe majority of our carvings are hand carved by Made Arsa and his family...

She and her family are responsible for producing many of our painted masks and animal carvings. Putu employs around ten workers who assist with painting them. Much of the wood carving is done in her own workshop but sometimes it is either contracted out to extended family or other carvers within the local village. Along the road from where she lives you’ll see a number of wood carvers each producing their own wonderful crafts such as painted ducks, birds, frogs, Garudas and tropical fruit. Tegalalang and the nearby village of Jati, just off the road, are noted woodcarving centres. Putu is well known for occasionally taking whole tree trunks and carving them into fantastic whimsical creatures in her own inimitable way.

We have known and done business with Putu for over eight years and although she is a shy lady, she has a rich, warming smile which she uses readily when she gets to know you as we have found with most people from Bali. She is a well respected figure within her community which is one of the qualities that drew us to her. Like many other local carvers she lives behind her workshop within her extended family all of whom, like her, are devout Hindus. Pictured bottom left is the shrine behind where they live which is shared between the immediate family to which they all make offerings to their god twice a day.

Putu has two lovely children who are aged 7 and 5. and a husband called Kadek who is a highly respected worker in the local community.