About Jason
Birthday: December 12
Hometown: St. Croix, IN
ECHO Carving Championship Appearances:
- 2009: 1st Place
- 2007: 7th Place
- 2006: 6th Place
Professional Carver Since: 2002
Most Challenging Carving: Memorial for a New York family dog
Favorite Wood to Carve: Catalpa
Non-carving Hobbies: Fishing, hunting, family
Oddest Job Ever: Working at a lab that raised rats for tests and other studies
Favorite Saw: ECHO CS-530
How long have you been a professional carver?
I started carving in 2002. I consider my professional career to have started when I sold my first piece 30 days after I carved my first bear.
How did you get into the business?
I worked for 10 years in a sawmill and logging operation. While at an industry show I saw a carver and decided to give it a shot. After several failed attempts I finally carved a bear I was proud of. My wife Cindy and I danced around that thing and really thought we had something. I started carving and we opened a retail shop 2 months later. Shortly after I received word of a carver doing some work in Louisville Kentucky so I jumped in the truck and went to see him – this would be the first time I had ever spoken to another carver. The carver turned out to be team member Mark Colp. He encouraged me to head to a competition in Illinois the following week. I attended the competition and was bit by the carving bug and haven’t looked back since!
What do you like most about your chosen profession?
It’s never the same day twice. I love the challenges presented on a daily basis. I like to interact with people and enjoy seeing new places. When I started carving I never dreamed what I would accomplish in such a short time.
About how many hours do you carve weekly?
Depending on the time of year…during peak show season I’ll carve 70 hours a week. Outside of season I carve at my studio 40 hours a week.
What do you view the biggest challenge when competing?
The biggest challenge in competing is coming up with a unique design for your piece. The challenge is to design something that can be carved in the amount of time you’re given. When I compete I try to compete more with myself than with other competitors. I like to push myself. I’m a tremendous fan of chainsaw carving and its competitors. I think everyone is a winner if you are happy with what you were able to accomplish in your individual piece. I would hate to be a judge of any form of art.
What was the worst thing that happened to you during a competition?
I was carving a bull rider and went to detail the head of the rider when a rotten knot fell ruining the carving the night before the competition was over. I made a quick decision to cut his head off and remove a block of wood from the base to reattach to the body of the rider. The piece turned out really well.
What do you consider your best work?
It’s hard to pick a favorite piece. Each piece has its own story and experience – all these pieces make you the carver you are today so to pick just one would be unfair. I could pick the carving from ECHO Cup 2009 because it turned out nice and I won, I could pick the on-site carving done at Hipp Nursery in Evansville because it was 18’ tall and turned out well, but most of all I enjoyed the family I carved it for, or I could pick the on-site carving from Madisonville, Kentucky. It also turned out great, but the best part was meeting the family I did the carving for. I could also pick the dog memorial I carved for Christmas for a family that lost their dog. They cried the whole time they were in the store. I could pick the memorial bench I carved for the young family that lost their father/husband in a car accident in August. All of these were done in the last 6 months of 2009. They all have their own unique place to me.
What was your most challenging commission job?
My most challenging piece was to carve a gentlemen’s grandfather that passed away in the early 80’s. He wanted the piece larger than life so the dimensions of the anatomy were different than normal. He gave me a few photos and an artist’s sketch of the pose he wanted him in – returning from fishing. The gentleman was an African American which I had never carved before. I had the pressure of carving not only a piece I had never carved before, but also to match the photos and sketch. The piece was given to his grandmother on her 94th birthday. It was a real success.
Where do you get your inspiration for carving?
I’m inspired by many things. I’m inspired to do well for my family. I get inspiration from other carvers and artists. I get inspired by nature itself. When you love what you do inspiration comes from everywhere.
What's your favorite wood to carve?
I’m from Southern Indiana so locally I carve a lot of pine, but I love to carve Catalpa. When I go to the west coast (those guys are spoiled) I love to carve Redwood and Western Cedar - soft wood with beautiful grain and color.
What's your favorite subject to carve?
It’s hard to find a favorite subject. Like many artist I enjoy the challenge of any new subject. Traditionally its wildlife because that is what typically sells the best, but I enjoy carving any new idea that comes my way.
What's your favorite ECHO chain saw?
Tough choice because they are all great saws and each one has its purpose. If I could only have 1 saw to carve a piece it would be the CS-530. Mainly because of it’s weight to power ratio. It is a good blocking saw and can be used for detail as well.
What do you like about ECHO chain saws?
The thing I like about ECHO chainsaws start every time and they don’t quit running! Carving is very hard on a saw – it is screaming RPM’s under no load. ECHO chainsaws don’t seem to mind the work!
What has it been like to be a member of the ECHO Carving Team?
Being a member of the ECHO Carving Team has been an amazing experience. When I was asked to be a member I had only been carving a short time compared to the other team members so for a beginner it was an honor. Being a member has propelled my carving career not only through the exposure to big events but also the experiences I have gained from carving with the top carvers in the country. I look forward to the many adventures to come and am proud to be associated with a company such as ECHO and team members – Mark, Bob, and Mike.
What is your most memorable carving event/experience as a team member?
It is hard to choose a favorite event, but I’d say the Harley-Davidson 105th celebration. It was a lot of fun not only to carve at, but to interact with the people and experience the activities as well.
What advice would you give to a novice carver?
My advice would be to be patient first of all, know your equipment, and seek advice from experienced carvers.
What saw would you recommend to someone just starting out in chain saw carving?
For someone just starting chainsaw carving I’d suggest the CS-530 because of its versatility. You can’t get the job done on just one saw so you’ll also have to get a CS-346 with a carving package (if you can find one) to do your finish detailing with.
What changes have you seen in recent years involving the carving industry?
The biggest change is the demand for the entertainment value that chainsaw carving brings to an event. From the largest events to the smaller events people need entertained. What the carving does is offer this rare form of entertainment that brings the people back throughout an event to check the progress of the pieces being carved. It’s not only a memory but offers a residual which is the carving so there is huge value from what we do. As the popularity for the sport grows so will the need for these one of a kind sculptures.