A dynasty of masters
By Gohar Stepanian

Yerkir/arm
10 June 05

Young engraver Mkrtich Garnetsi lives and creates in Garni. He works
in a small corner of his backyard where he spends most part of his day.

“Sometimes the kids take a tool, and I have to look for it angrily,
but I know one day they will become a sculptor or an artist like me.

My eldest son does his own engravings already,” he says.

The eldest son is 5, exactly the same age when Mkrtich himself
started to paint. Everyone in this family of artists — the father,
grandfather, and sisters — is involved in arts.

Mkrtich engraves the Armenian alphabet, khachkars (cross-stones),
and souvenirs on apricot, walnut and pear wood.

“The walnut wood is the best, it is easy to carve,” says Mkrtich,
whose works are for sale to support his family.

To the left from his house stands the St. Masthots church.

“I engraved the church once, and the buyer found me and the church
with the help of the name on the sculpture,” he says.

The khachkars of Mkrtich remind of the medieval style, while the St.

Mashtots church is the source of his inspiration.