Wisconsin Chainsaw Massacre

Readers of this blog may recall my prior reporting (January, 2007) of my interest in chainsaw carving. Back in January, I made my first attempt with a little bear. I decided to try again today, thinking I should continue to refine my technique by carving the same little bear again--hopefully better this time. Unbeknown to me, my dear wife was sneaking around with a camera while I carved. Her movements were unbeknown, because I have a new Husqvarna safety helmet with face screen and hearing protection. Between my intent focus on the carving and the forms of protection, I was pretty unaware of other things going on around me. Anyway, here are a few shots of me at work.



I didn't realize until I looked at these shots, that my saw was smoking so much. I've got to look into that! But, back to the carving...I think this iteration is coming out a little better than the first one. Some have said that my first attempt looks more like Miss Piggy than a little bear. I need to do some more work on this one, and I was disappointed to discover a crack in the wood which is interfering with the shape of the nose and mouth, but maybe I can work around that somehow.

Here are a couple of additional shots. By chance, I was wearing a T-shirt today that I was given a few years ago prior to a sailing excursion in New Zealand. The message on the shirt is probably apropos for anyone who might be nearby watching me carve.



This is a really fun thing to do. Like any carving, the trick is to remove everything that doesn't look like what you are trying to carve. Easier said than done. I don't have as good a sense of how to do this as my sister would, for example. And, I admit, for now I am working from some plans or guidelines in a couple of books. When I start branching out into my own designs, we will all see how really bad I can be. All I've got to say is that Pete and Betsy, and Rob and Carrie, better look out. Someday I might decide that Henry and Eleanor need cute little bears in their backyards instead of some unnecessary big ole tree that might happen to be there!