Yee is adept at whittling, an activity where three-dimensional objects are made out of raw wood, using a knife and other small carving tools to repeatedly remove small slices. It’s a niche art form that took him a lot of time to learn and master.
It’s hard not to be mesmerised by the miniature animals Yee forms out of an unassuming wood block: tiny bunnies, adorable hedgehogs, cute cats, even wholesome whales.
Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, the 47-year-old shared that it all started with his daughter. “When she was in kindergarten, most of the toys she played with were wooden, and I remember feeling intrigued by them,” he said.
By chance, he came across a video about whittling in 2021, which prompted him to give it a go.
His first attempt saw him working with a piece of pinewood, but little did he know it wasn’t suitable for the task. “I hurt my joints and fingers holding it for hours on end, to the point where I couldn’t make a fist!”
He then switched to basswood, which is softer but dense enough for the purpose of whittling. Slowly but surely getting the hang of it, Yee started an online business called TeenyHands to sell his handmade wooden toys and run whittling workshops.
While initially aimed at children, Yee soon realised that adults, too, were interested in buying the miniatures for themselves. “Some of them say they find looking at these animals calming and therapeutic,” he noted.
Yee also mentioned a study where blindfolded people who touched wooden items recorded calmer heartbeats compared with other materials such as metal.
“As wood is warm to the touch, it has a calming effect. This is also why many people like wooden furniture in their homes, because it brings them closer to nature,” he said.
Is it hard to learn the craft, then? According to the Sarawak native, as with everything else, it’s all about interest. “You will experience different levels of pain while learning, but once you get past that initial hump, you’ll enjoy it.
“Depending on the intricacy of the final product, it can help train your focus and patience. It’s also more soothing and better than looking at screens.”
Indeed, the sound of the knife making contact and shaving slivers off the wood could be considered therapeutic to some!
Another thing Yee loves about whittling is the uniqueness of each carving, in that each has its own characteristics – its own “soul” – compared with mass-produced items.
The trick to whittling is in carving in the right direction by following the wood grain. “It’s not just about how sharp the knife is. If you carve it along the grain, the wood will feel smooth afterwards, but if you go against it, it will feel rough.
“This is why I always tell my students to ‘communicate’ with the wood through your knife: it’s a living thing, after all.”
Most importantly, Yee said one must enjoy the process. “Don’t be too concerned with the result. Just enjoy and get the process right, and the end product will take care of itself.”
Follow TeenyHands on Facebook and Instagram for more information on Yee’s upcoming workshops.