Chainsaw carving turned out to be the best thing Wade Delbert McRann started doing.
The self-described “jack of all trades” lives in Bouchie Lake and was injured around five years ago. As his benefits started to dry up, he was stuck trying finding something to do with himself.
“My brother-in-law lives down south in Vancouver and does really tiny stuff, so he was like ‘I chainsaw carved this,’ and I thought, ‘man I’ve got a chainsaw,’” McRann said.
“So in December 2020 I just pulled out a saw and did my first carving.”
It took approximately three days to finish his first carving. He was admittedly nervous as he had pulled out a block and started carving a bear.
“I was happy with his head, but he looked a little cartoony,” McRann said.
“So I had a chunk of it block off on me and I turned it into an owl, but then the owl’s face had a crack in it, so the owl ended up turning into a cluster of four mushrooms.”
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The carving McRann described as one of his absolute favorites ended up being just a foot and a half tall and was gifted to family.
McRann has drawn his entire life and said he has always had a passion for doing something with his art.
One of his big idols has been wildlife carver Ken Sheen who lost his shop in a fire between Williams Lake and Quesnel in April 2021.
“I had whittled a few small things just with hand chisels and stuff but never really thought about chainsaw carving,” McRann said.
“This is one of the best things I could have started doing, I have to say.”
McRann tends to stray away from typical chainsaw carvings such as bears and eagles, with his abstract style carving every piece of wood into something stunningly one of a kind.
His larger pieces take roughly a week to complete depending on how intricate he wants to make them.
Support from family, friends and the local community has been strong.
“My wife especially has been my rock on this,” McRann said.
“She absolutely just adores every piece that I do and she’s already claimed about six things and they’re in the house so there’s been a few things that don’t make it to sale,” he added with a laugh.
”Just the chance of doing this and it actually working out has been a blessing.”
McRann currently carves out of a shop on his Blackwater Road property and hopes to add a display area soon.
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