OREGON LOGGING CONFERENCE CHAIN SAW WOOD ARTIST
FEBRUARY 23, 24, AND 25, 2012

Sponsored by:

RYAN ANDERSON

Ryan started his chainsaw carving career in June of 2005 after being apprenticed by Tracie Brittenfeld of Packwood, WA, Ryan became hooked to the trade instantly.

After graduating from Reedsport High School in 2007 Ryan hit the carving hard and in 2008 he placed 1st all four days in the semi-pro quick carve event at the Reedsport chainsaw carving competition followed by the Ocean Shores competition where he took 2nd place in the semi-pro main event and two second place awards in the quick carve.

Being spurred forward by those first achievements,  Ryan participated in many other events around the U.S., increasing his carving abilities as well as making a name for himself within the carving world.

In 2009 at the age of 20, Ryan was invited to represent Husqvarna, being a star attraction for grand openings, gala events and carving championships.  Since then he has competed in many international events, currently highlighted with a trip to Europe to compete in the English Open, where he took 2nd place.  Ryan has also traveled to compete in Scotland and Canada.   He was a highlight carver in "Sawdogs", a new made for television reality show about chainsaw carvers.  Click here to visit the Saw Dogs site.

Ryan loves carving and creating awe inspiring pieces for people to enjoy.  Pushing the sport to a new level, Ryan loves the challenges and new ideas that defies the old style of carving by creating a new style of 3D art form.

Ryan credits his career to his ability to many hours of hard work, the selfless dedication of family, friends and many other carvers that were willing to guide him along the way.

KEVIN AND TYLER STRAUSLIN

A father and son team of local Eugene artists, Kevin and Tyler Strauslin, work together building a local business with their craft on a shoestring budget.  Their passion for the art form and their love of being able to work together as a team, keep them striving forward, determined to make the business work.  Kevin has been in business at his location at 89970 Hwy 99, Eugene just North of Jerry's for nearly three years now, and his son Tyler, then 17, joined in the business after the first year.   This art form seems to come natural to both of them and the quality of their work continues to get better and better!  They have been told by many pro carvers that they are producing better quality pieces in the first few years than anyone they have seen.  

Kevin began carving while working in his original trade, drywall.  He sculptured and carved using gypsum materials such as drywall and mud.  He pushed it to the limits artistically, but always felt he could not do what he really wanted with the materials.  He started playing around with chainsaw carving in 2004.  He moved to Eugene in 2006 and started carving with chisels.  In 2008 he started working with a local carver and by the end of the year he had taken over the shop and began his own carving business.  Carving comes natural to Kevin.  He feels this is his true calling.

Tyler has been carving side-by-side with his father, Kevin, since the 2009 Reedsport competition, where he helped with the tools.  After watching all of the excitement of the competition and all of the carvers, he began carving with Kevin right after returning home that summer.  As soon has he graduated High School, he started carving full time.  Like his father, he seems to be a natural at this art form and plans on making it his career.  Tyler will be 19 in May 2011, and will have two years of carving experience in June, 2011.

The shop on Hwy 99, in Eugene, Oregon, continues to expand and consists of a gallery/show room with a viewing window where you can watch the chainsaw artists at work with reduced sound and dust.  Their hours are Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Every piece they create is hand-crafted with chainsaws, grinders, chisels, routers and sanders and range from cute unique gifts to 10 ft tall sculptures.  The benches, chairs and tables built only out of 1, 2 or 3 separate pieces of wood are incredibly solid structures and they have beds for the rustic cabin look.  They have rocking bears and snails for the little ones to ride, water features, swinging bears and other sculptures for the yard, all sorts of signs and plaques for inside or out, unique affordable gifts such as bears, squirrels, turtles, frogs, fish, dogs, cats, eagles, pigs, etc.  Then there are the elaborate sculptures worthy of a gallery setting or fancy show piece for the home.   The finish they use is suitable for outside as it is the same finish they use for log cabins yet has the sheen of a varnished look.  The pieces will last a long time outside with occasional re-application of the finish.

Kevin has competed in the Reedsport Chainsaw competition for two years now, placing 4^th  in 2009 and 5^th in 2010 in the semi-pro division, and Tyler competed for the first time last year, placing 4^th in 2010.   This year, in 2011, Kevin competed as a Pro carver, and Tyler competed in the Semi-pro division.  

BRIAN VORWALLER

Brian has always had an eye to create the imaginable.  As a young child Brian's mother encouraged him to draw and create, even then he had a desire to use a chainsaw.... Artist Extreme.  Brian enjoys bringing Beauty out of wood by carvings and creating art into wood sculptures.  No two pieces of art are exactly the same; the grains in the wood makes each art piece one of a kind.

Brian's an artist / award winning carver who loves to create the imaginable.  He has carved many different types of hard, soft and exotic woods from white cedar to juniper, cottonwood to redwood, maple and so forth. He direct sales, carve custom orders and perform commission carvings onsite.

He approaches his work with a unique perspective that takes into account your ideas.  He has found that most people want an art piece that best describes and fits them and their needs.  Brian tries to create the ideal piece that his clients had imagined, a piece that they will love and enjoy!! 

"This carving (shown to the left) is mounted on my living room wall.  It was done by Brian Vorwaller a chainsaw carver from Bandon Oregon.  He produces some of the best work I have seen" -- quoted by one of the judges at the 2011 Reedsport carving show, Steve Clark, President of Golden Eagle Dist. Corp.

Brian has competes in the Reedsport event in June each year.  Brian and his wife lives in Bandon, Oregon.