Adorable, whimsical, colorful li’l monsters delicately carved from hunks of wood
This was a fun find that graced my social feed. I was first exposed to this type of art more than thirty years ago while on vacation in Issaquah, WA. I stood gobsmacked, watching an artist wielding a chainsaw with the precision of a scalpel. The sheer scale and minute details of the pieces artists created with such an instrument of power fascinated me. Years later, as I drive through more rural areas of NY and NJ, I often see similarly large sculptures strewn about various properties.
Jim Haggart is a self-taught chainsaw sculptor from Warwick, NY. The extend of his art training comes from sketching doodles as a kid. Haggart’s unlikely evolution took him from pen and paper to chainsaws and tree stumps. He began by creating large-scale pieces such as the one I saw on that vacation. His pieces were often taller than he was. As time went by, the scale of the work began to take a physical toll, inspiring a change in his work. His critters are now smaller as are the tools that he utilizes to create them.
@haggartcarvings Grinding this little weirdos teeth down! #monster #carving #woodcarving #weirdo #creep
The detail however is still as mesmerizing. These li’ll monsters are adorable, whimsical, and colorful. Each one displaying a uniquely distinct personality and playfulness. Haggart sells these carvings roadside at his shop (109 Galloway Rd. Warwick, NY). He’s also been a top rated seller on eBay since 2008 (Chainsaw Carving Critters). His pieces are not made to order. Each is one of a kind so what you see is exactly what you get.
If you’re looking to add a touch of friendly eccentricity and bright colors to your home with one of these unusual characters, check out Jim Haggart’s amazing work.
Cheers!
Stephen
Instagram -> instagram.com/jimhaggartcarvings
TikTok -> tiktok.com/@haggartcarvings
eBay -> ebay.com/str/chainsawcarvingcritters
