DIY Network

Ridgway Rendezvous - Zoe Boni: Chainsaw Rose Sculpting, Part 1 Wielding a rough brush, this artist creates delicate and vibrant art. From "Woodsculpting" episode DWDS-108

	Zoe Boni, chainsaw artist, sharing a moment with a fellow carver.
	Finished relief style rose carving, ready for the auction.

Zoe Boni has been fortunate to have the Ridgway Chainsaw Rendezvous in her back yard every year. This 26-year-old inspired woman found her passion for carving while listening and watching other artists at the annual festival in the Alegany Mountains. While the daughter of the event organizers, Rick and Liz Boni, Zoe has become a arguably one of the more talented carvers in the art of chainsaw sculpting. With a number of different approaches to the same piece of wood, Zoe can visualized a gorgeous, finished product.

From country bears to extreme chain saw art, Ridgeway Rendezvous has it all. And, while there Zoe offers her expertise for carving a rose from a yellow pine slab in the relief style. Once the carving is complete, she demonstrates how to achieve burned-in highlights and shadows using a propane torch to burn the wood. She then uses a grinder and flap-sander to further define and smooth out the final shape. Then it’s time to paint. Using spray cans of latex paint, Zoe applies transparent coats of color to the sculpture.

Zoe Boni finishes her rose sculpture. It sells at the annual Ridgway Rendezvous Charity Auction for $275.00.

advertisement

Materials:

chainsaws with various blades and bar sizes
protective gear
slabs or logs of yellow pine
grinder
flap sander
propane torch
acrylic paints
brushes

Steps:

1. Start be selecting a yellow pine slab and draw out the outline of the rose onto the wood (Figure A).

2. Use a quarter-tip chainsaw bar for getting into small spaces (Figures B & C).

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

3. Trace out the outline of the final shape using the saw, and removing excess wood (Figure D). Keep the cuts in a flowing motion and avoid straight lines (Figures E & F).

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

4. Once most of the excess wood is removed, change to a dime-tip saw for the very fine details. Remove further excess wood until the final shape is created (Figures G & H).

Figure G

Figure H

5. Using a propane torch, burn in highlights and shadows on the carving (Figure I). This technique allows the grain of the wood to come out (Figure J).

Figure I

Figure J

6. Using a grinder, sand off the burned areas to create highlights letting the natural color of the wood to come through (Figures K, L, & M).

Figure K

Figure L

Figure M

7. To paint the sculpture, use latex spray paints and apply light coats for transparent coverage (Figure N). Use different hues of colors to add depth and shading (Figures O & P).

Figure N

Figure O

Figure P

8. For the final paint application, use a dry brush and squeeze out a small amount of acrylic paint to achieve the highlights (Figures Q, R, & S).

Figure Q

Figure R

Figure S

Figure T

9. Finally, sand off all painted areas for the highlights (Figure T).

RESOURCES :

Fox Chapel Publishing Co.
Publishers of
Woodcarving Illustrated magazine and numerous books on woodcarving.
1970 Broad Street
East Petersburg, PA 17520

Websites:
www.foxchapelpublishing.com

Fox Chapel Publishing, featured authors

Special DIY page at www.woodcarvingillustrated.com

Woodcarving Illustrated magazine
Website: www.woodcarvingillustrated.com

Zoe Boni
903 Hill Street
Ridgway, PA 15853

Ridgeway Rendezvous
Rick & Liz Boni
Phone: (814) 772 0400
Email: info@chainsawrendezvous.org
www.chainsawrendezvous.org