Shane Christensen Uses a Chainsaw to Create Wood Carving Masterpieces

A hobby of wood carving would last a lifetime and become his passion

Shane Christensen carved an amazing sculpture of a kangaroo from a tree stump

Talented woodcarving artist

Shane Christensen is a Eumundi, Australia-based artist who uses chain saws and traditional carving techniques to make nature-inspired sculptures. The work he makes is varied from smaller animals to native beehive habitats and surfboards.

Growing up in the Bundaberg Region, Shane never imagined his wood carving hobby would last a lifetime and become his passion.

Shane’s wood carving has given him the opportunity to travel to other countries, and he has artwork and sculptures all along the east coast of Australia.

He said it was more than two decades ago when he took inspiration from the late Nobby Clark who had created thousands of wood sculptures, from life-size turtles to complex miniature pieces of art.

“The first thing Nobby asked me to carve was a fish, out of a piece of Mango he gave me,” Shane said.

“I did this at home by myself and brought it back to Nobby a few days later, from memory he seemed pleasantly surprised.”

“20 years on, I have refined my own techniques, but still remember what I was shown, the guidance from a master carver.”

“The students loved the noise and excitement when I had a playground project in a school in Cairns.”

Parrot Carving Time-lapse

“I often wonder if I inspire any of the next generations to think outside the box – one of the mysteries of life is we never really know whom we’ve inspired!”

“I went to a local high school in Bundaberg, and failed art class miserably, but I’m now a full-time artist.

“If I could impart anything for the younger generation of artists, I’d encourage them to ‘think outside the box – if your dream, a creative job doesn’t exist yet, make one up.

“If you have enough passion or interest in something, you will learn exceptionally fast, and people will support you to walk your own path.”

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