Hard times lead to a new life and love for McLouth man
4:47 p.m. Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Russell Ehart is a successful chainsaw carver, but it took a painful accident to lead him to where he is today.
"Yeah, I was in a real rough place," Ehart said. "I was about to starve because I didn't have any income. I got down to relief, as they call it, about the welfare department."
Ehart hurt his back while doing construction on a house. The McLouth man couldn't work and could barely get around. That continued for a few years until he began doing small carvings.
"I've always been able to do it, but I didn't realize I could do it for a living," Ehart said.
In order to do well at it, Russ realized he needed to expand his business.
To Contact Russell Ehart
Russell has a web site you can access at www.ehartart.com.
"We got a computer, and the first thing I started looking for was other chainsaw carvers," Ehart said.
In an online carving forum, he found what he was looking for - sort of.
"I got to talking with this gal and she said she was a woman chainsaw carver, and I said I bet this will be something," Ehart said.
Much to his surprise, Russ soon learned it was something, and something special. Ehart struck up a friendship with that woman carver from New York.
"We got to talking and emailing back and forth and the next thing you know she flew in to see me," Ehart said.
And that was just the beginning.
"I went to New York. We got married and had a little girl and everything is great," Ehart said.
Now they work as a team, carving together. But they are not always together. He still lives in McLouth. His wife lives in New York
"The only strain is me being on the road a lot," Ehart said. "We don't have problems when we're together. We carve good, excellent together."
Their work brings in about $400 a foot.
"That one took three weeks."
Jana asks, "Of how much time each day?"
"Try not to carve over five hours each day because you get so fatigued," Ehart said.
Russ usually travels to people's homes to carve trees on site.
"Usually they'll just give me an idea, turn me loose with the saw and let me perform my stuff. Magic, some of them say," Ehart said.
And maybe magic is right. Carving led to his wife, his daughter, and allowed him to carve out this successful niche in life.
"It's what I'm supposed to be doing. It just fell right into place."
Did You Know...
- Large, solid, dead trees, such as elm, oak, walnut, maple, locust and osage orange, are the best candidates for carving. Carvers say they prefer dead trees, but nearly all trees, including hollow ones, can be carved.
- Before a carver gets started, a tree service should top the tree to the desired height and remove all branches not being used in the carving.
- A chainsaw carving requires collaboration between homeowner and artist. Even though a subject may be specified, the artist should be given license for creativity.
- Tree art that is carved with the stump still in the ground may last only 10 years because water still can migrate up the roots and into the trunk. Applying protective varnish or wood preservative will protect the carving and extend its life.
- The way to keep a tree carving indefinitely is to eventually remove it from its root system. Request that the tree art be carved so there's a substantial base at the bottom. This way you can eventually saw off the carving without ruining the artwork. The carving can then be moved inside or remounted.
- Tree carvings typically start around $500.
- -Be prepared to do the clean up yourself, or pay extra. Carvers say they will often put down tarps so the saw dust and debris can be easily bagged.
- Also availability, setup and the cost of scaffolding or platforms for safety (if required) are subject to additional expense in the final bill.
- You might also be asked to pay travel expenses and hotel expenses, depending on how far the carver travels.
Comments
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Feb. 14, 2007 at 11:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)kbm66 (anonymous)
I Was Wondering Whether This Man Has a Web Site? I Would like to Go and Look at Some of His Carvings. So If It Is Possible Could You Please Tell Me Whether He Has a Web Site. If Not Is There Some Other Way You Can Tell Me How to Get a Hold of him. Would Appreciate This Very Much.
Thank You,
Kelly
kbm66@yahoo.com
Feb. 15, 2007 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)kookiel (anonymous)
Yes Russell and his wife have chainsaw carving galleries on our site with their chainsaw art work displayed at: http://www.chainsawsculptors.com We have over 325 members with a lot of chainsaw carving to review. Come and enjoy our site and join us if your a chainsaw artist or wood carver. We have free galleries for all kinds of Art.
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