Gandalf the Grey tree carving

[Colin-Partridge]

Hi Gang,
I am out of my slump and just got back from Toronto where I started a chainsaw carving in a tree. This tree is a Mulberry I have never seen a Mulberry this big. This is the first time I have carved Mulbery the sap wood is white but the heart wood is a beautiful yellow almost the same as Osage Orange. The wood is very hard even when wet but takes very good detail. The lady wanted me to carve a likeness of Galdalf from Lord of the Rings. It isnt an exact likeness but she was very happy with the results so far. Most of it is chainsaw carved all done with my little Redmax. The eyes and eye brows and mostache were put in with a chisel. The carving of the face is about three feet high and one and half feet wide. I have to go back on Wednesday and put in some more detail in the eyes and beard and stain it.
Any comments yea and nay are always welcome. BTW she is having the tree cut off about six feet above the carving. Ron the carving is high up on the tree probably about ten feet up. It is a wizard face with a widows peek hair style with a long beard flowing slightly to the right as you look at it. I have him looking the same way the beard is flowing.

Colin

[Ron Davidson]

Sounds like a great project Colin. I was going to ask if you ever got the redmax repaired but I guess you did. Glad you have you back to normal my friend.
Ron

[tucker1931]

Great carving Colin, I'm sure the little lady will admire it for years to come.
Cliff

[Irish]

Great work, Colin! Mulberry is a tree that can easily survive rough handling. Ours over the years has dropped so many branches, some up to six inches wide, and still go on to just get bigger.

You have done Tolkien's wizard quite fine!!!!

Susan

[Lightningbolt]

Another great project thus far! I'd have to say that I haven't seen a mulberry tree that big either... we have a lot of them around here but not the size of that one.

It looks like you have the scaffold tied off good on the top so I'm glad that you're being safe.

[gene-messer]

Colin .. You are a artist with that chain saw .. Were so glad to have you showing us something most of us dont do ..

Excellent facial features .. what expression !

Gene

[dicktilley20]

A Wizard, Wizard Colin!!!

Round and round the mullberry bush!

On a fine and frosty mornin'

You be carefull ol'fella on those tressels!

dick

[chuckt]

Nice job Colin. I have a couple trees in my yard that one day I intend to do something similar in. Thanks for sharing the photos. Gandalf is one of my all time favorite characters. How come you chose not to give him his hat? Just curious.

ChuckT

[Al_Hillis]

Great job Colin And thanks for remindind me to go take a picture of the Carving I just started today on the elm tree . Will post picture later

[Merle Rice]

Hi Colin, You Chain Saw guys Amaze me. Sure is a nice Carving. That doesn't harm the tree? I'm thinking no, or you wouldn't do it. DUH. Thanks for the pictures. Merle