FRANKLIN LIVING—When Christopher Webb’s sister-in-law asked him to create a melon fruit basket for her wedding, he quickly decided he wanted to make something a little more impressive than a plain-Jane hollowed-out watermelon.

A Youtube search revealed videos of the respected Thai tradition of elaborate fruit carvings. Webb was sold. “I said to myself, I think I could do that if I just practice,” said Webb. He began to imitate the Thai-style watermelon carvings, watching online videos of skilled practitioners to hone his own blossoming skills. “I learned tricks and developed my own way of doing them,” Webb said. Five or six practice melons later, and Webb was ready to carve a wedding-day watermelon: the image of two swans kissing, their necks creating a heart shape, flanked by roses. “I didn’t know how it would turn out. I just went with my gut.”

It was a raging success.

“Everybody went crazy over it,” said Webb. “They couldn’t believe people could do that. I guess they hadn’t seen anything like that around here … It actually turned out really well. I was surprised it turned out so well.”

That was six years ago. Webb, who is also crane operator for G&G Steel in Russellville as well as a photographer, quickly found himself with more requests for unique watermelon carvings. Thus began a hobby and side business that became a favorite artistic outlet.

“Whenever I do them, I put some headphones in and listen to music, and I can get in my own little world with it,” said Webb. “It’s just me and a piece of fruit. It’s pretty cool because I’m a very impatient person, but when I do that, I have to be patient, and it’s almost soothing. It’s a very soothing thing – almost therapeutic – because it forces me to be patient, slow down and concentrate. Everything else is just shut out.”

Webb orders his tools from Thailand: specialized carving knives and sets of scalloped-edged scoops. Each watermelon carving is a three- or four-hour endeavor.

“One of the hardest things is figuring out what depth to do the carving at,” Webb said. “You have to be really cautious. If you cut too deep, it will basically ruin your whole design. I’ve had to learn as I went.”

Webb’s carved watermelons – as well as papayas, mangos, cantaloupe, honeydew and “anything in the melon family” – have been in demand at baby showers and birthday and anniversary parties, in addition to weddings. He’s completed about 40 commissioned creations now, employing many different designs. “I do some that look like owls – I have done a few of them for baby showers,” Webb said. Baby baskets are also a popular design.

Each creation is a one-of-a-kind. “It’s something I do for each individual; you can’t mass produce them,” Webb said. “People like getting something different. Anybody getting married doesn’t want to have exactly the same thing somebody else has. They want it to be unique.”

Aside from having the proper tools, another key aspect of creating the elaborate designs is choosing the right fruit for the job. Webb is particular when selecting the size and shape of watermelon he wants to use, which is dependent on the design. Lettering, like “Mr. and Mrs.,” requires an oblong watermelon. A simpler design, like a rose, might require a nice round melon. Every creation involves intense attention to detail. “I’m a perfectionist,” Webb said, “so when I get done with it, it has to be perfect to my standards.”

His proudest creation to date featured a script letter B surrounded by intricate roses. “It took me nearly five hours. I had to keep going back and adding to it. When I got done with it, it blew me away,” Webb said. “I was really pushing myself, doing things I had never done. It was so gratifying because I had a vision and did it just like I envisioned.”

Webb said he aims to buy local fruit when it’s in season, patronizing farmers’ markets and fruit stands. With knife, scoop and melon in hand, he lets his creativity flow.

“I think it would surprise people to know it doesn’t take a lot of tools – just imagination and a knife,” said Webb. As to why his carvings have been so popular, Webb said he thinks it’s the uniqueness of each design that captures people’s attention. “There’s no ‘watermelon carving’ in the Yellow Book. It’s such a niche. People like the uniqueness.”

For Webb, “I like finishing it and knowing someone might enjoy it. That’s my favorite part – when I see people being satisfied and happy with it.”

Webb is married to Ashley, who works at Petro Chemical in Russellville. He has a grown daughter, Kristanie, and a 16-year-old son, Trevor, a student at Russellville High School.

Photos by CORTNEY GREEN