chainsaw carving

[Colin-Partridge]

I dont know if I am going to stike a nerve or not with this subject. I have always been interested in chainsaw carving and although I sometimes start some of my larger carvings with a chainsaw I have not yet completed a chainsaw carving. I was wondering how you guys (girls) feel about this subject. Do you consider chainsaw carvers woodcarvers or not? I have spoken to so many wood carvers who believe that chainsaw carvers should not be catagorize themselves as woodcarvers. I have recently puchased a carving bar and chain for my saw and when the weather warms up here in the frozen north (tonight it is 28 below zero) I am going to give it a try. I have watched these men and women at work and they produce some pretty amazing stuff.
Last year I was honoured when I was invited to Campbell River BC to carve on the beach in the Shoreline Arts Competition some of the best chainsaw carvers in the world were there and what they produced with a chainsaw was unimaginable. I am invited back this year and I cant wait to untill June. All of these carvers use only a chainsaw and power sander to produce their masterpieces I was a little out of my league with my mallet and chisels but I loved every minute of it and the competitors were very helpful and friendly. If you are interested in seeing some of the work produced there you can check it out at http://www.crshorelinearts.com. I would like to know what your view is of this subject > :-/

[masker001]

Colin,It doesnt matter how you remove the wood to form a pattern,it is all woodcarving.You can use knives,chisels,grinders or chainsaws,to me it,s all the same.You are carving wood.That is what is important,other than the fact that you are enjoying what you are doing and the results are pleasing to your eyes.You do beautiful work,keep it up.
Mark

I agree with Mark - carving is carving, no matter how you get to the finished product.

Teri

[Nancy-G]

I'll agree too -- a chainsaw, a Foredom or a sharp spoon, it's all wood carving. I wish my spoons were sharper.

[AlArchie]

In my humble opinion, if you carve you carve; if sombody figured out how to carve with an AK-47, it would still be carving; not my style but hey, have you seen some of the stuff other artists call art??? I mean, pee in a mason jar with a cross in it? C'mon, I gotta do that once a year at the doc's office. Maybe I can throw a charm of some sort in the cup, and have that pay for my office call!

There are some spectacular chainsaw carvings aroundsome done with sharp spoons! How do you sharpen those spoons, Nancy, and all the way around or just the tip and/or one edge?

Al

Saw away ... The only caveat I'd add is that if someone asks, you tell them how you did it (or if your gonna sell it), other than that, who cares.

[lorax]

I agree with everyboby, the art you make is more important than how you make the art you make If you want to see some wonder works of chainsaw art visit www.carvingpost.com

[Lightningbolt]

Sorry to be 3 years late in replying to this thread but I just now found it when it popped up under one of my postings.
I'd just like to add my agreement that chainsaw carving is certainly one of the carving arts AND also one of my most recent new-found loves!

Colin: I know that you're presently outta town at the Pennsylvania event I believe, but thanks for the Campbell River link. I am enjoying clicking through all of the carvings there and was wondering if you will attend this year's event? If it weren't several thousand miles away I'd sure like to go!! :-(

[Kenny_S]

Same here LB, just popped up. Been noticeing several new thread to me but dates are old.
Anyway, back to the original posting.
Count me in as far as considering chainsaw carving as wood carving. However, Me thinks some of the english carvers don't and even don't classify what we do carving. But then, I am not from England either.

[squbrigg]

Acturally.....I saw some English chainsaw carvers in a write up in their Carving magazine....and a darn poor magazine it is (in my humble opinion). They had some pretty good work going on, but completely different from our efforts on this side of the pond. From their "letters" in the magazine, they don't seem to think much of North American stuff, but that was just some writers opinion. Carvers is carvers, where ever they is!!! I speak their language.

Bob