It isn’t often that one encounters a young person with the patience and drive to master the art of pipe carving.  Enter Matt Roussell, one of our locals who has managed to make a name for himself in a remarkably short period of time.

We sell some of Matt’s pipes here at the shop.  It’s always exciting when he brings us a new one because each of his pipes are not only beautiful, but so unique.  Whether it’s a new finishing technique or a new shape, it is obvious that Matt loves learning and experimenting.

Matt was kind enough (okay, fine, we threatened him) to answer a few questions for the blog.  Enjoy!

Just For Him:  Where and how do you select your briar?

Matt Roussell:  I buy my briar from Steve Norse, who owns Vermont Freehand.  I tell Steve what grade of briar I want and if I want cross cut grain or plateau block.  Then he sends them my way.

What are your favorite shapes or styles to carve:

MR:  I love making Blowfish, and I enjoy making just about any panel style pipe.  I also like Danish shapes.

Who are your favorite pipe carvers, and how have they influenced you?

I am a big fan of S. Bang!  I really enjoy his shapes, they inspire me.  Jody Davis is another carver that I look up to, as well as Peter Heding.

How and why did you start carving pipes?

My wife told me I needed a hobby, haha.

What goals have you set for your business?

To rule the world.  Seriously I would like to make this my career one day, but it’s one step at a time!

What are some of the challenges you face as a pipe maker?

My biggest challenge is finding time.  It’s difficult to balance a full time job, pipes, and my family.

Have you noticed any trends in the pipe world lately?

Reverse Calabash pipes seem very popular right now.  Also seamless stems and pipes are starting to become popular.

What pipe shape do you find most difficult to carve?

Billiards; it’s such exact measurements to the pipe.  Especially when it comes to sanding.  If you sand even a tiny bit too much the whole pipe look is off.

Impressed?  We always are.  Imagine what his work will be like 10, 20, 30 years from now!  To learn more about Matt’s pipes, take a look at his Facebook page.

All images by Roussell Pipes