"Who We Are"

Rick & Judy Pratt

Our first experience with the Art of Chainsaw Carving happened in the summer of 1992, when we went on a trip to the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York. We attended a Lumerjack competition and that's where we witnessed our first carver with a chainsaw making sculptures from wood. Rick was a Tree Surgeon at that time, and he was completely fascinated that something more could be done with a saw. He talked to this carver for the rest of the day, and then had to come home and try it for himself. He has been Carving now for almost ten years. We live with our five children in a small town outside Buffalo, N.Y. Rick's major carving pieces have been custom-ordered stump carvings, where the customer has him come to their property and carve a tree that is still in the ground. He also creates Free-Standing Sculpture and Exterior/Interior Home Designing. If Rick gets a request for something he has never carved before, he will sit and sketch a drawing to get a good idea in his head before he starts. He really enjoys carving wildlife including Eagles, Bears, Owls and Raccoons. He also likes the human form of Indians, Mountain Men, Soldiers, Religious Figures and Angels.

Rick has an Entertainment Agent who books him at Fairs and Shows along the Eastern Coast of the U.S. That generally keeps him pretty busy in the summer months. In the winter he does a few Winter Fests in this area, where the snow flies, and he is able to carve Wood and Ice at these Events.

Rick's Credentials are as follows:

  • July, 1994 - Competed in my first Competition at Tupper Lake, N.Y. It was a 2-day competition. I carved a 5 ft. "Male & Female Eagle with Eaglets." I placed 1st in the Novice Division. Donated this piece to the Wildlife Refuge in Alabama, N.Y.

  • Feb. 2000 - "Mid-Winter Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous" in Ridgway, PA. I carved an 8 ft. "Sideways Flying Eagle." Placed 2nd out of 31 Professional Carvers. Won an Echo 3450 Chainsaw with a Carving Bar. Auction proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

  • May, 2000 - "Saws in the Swamp" Carving Event in Hollywood, FL. I carved a "Black Panther" and placed 3rd out of 15 Professional Carvers. Won a new Stihl 025 Chainsaw. Auction proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

  • May, 2001 - "Carving For Kids" Competition in Reno, NV. It was a 4-day Event with a quick carve each day that lasted 75 minutes. I carved a 12 ft. "Animal Filled Hollow Tree" out of Redwood, and placed 5th out of 30 Professional Carvers. Received a Plaque and Prize Money. Auction proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

  • Oct. 2001 - "Mid-Atlantic National Chainsaw Carving Competition" in Forksville, PA. It was a 2-day Event. I carved a 7 ft. "Man of the Mountain" and placed 1st out of 17 Professional Carvers. I received Prize Money.

  • Dec. 2001 - "Heart of Clarkston Holiday Festival" Competition in Clarkston, MI. It was a 2-day Event. I carved a 6ft. "Wildlife Bench" and placed 5th out of 12 Professional Carvers. My piece sold for $2,100.00 in the auction where the proceeds went to Lighthouse Emergency Services.

  • Jan. 2002 - Received an Arts Grant from the State of New York to create a 13 ft. "Civil War Soldier" in the Richmond Cemetery in Batavia, N.Y.

  • Mar. 2002- "Ridgway Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous" in Ridgway, PA. I carved a 6 ft. "Wildlife Bench" for the auction where the proceeds benefited the Make-A-Wish Foundation. No prizes this year for "places."

  • Oct. 2002- "Mid-Atlantic National Chainsaw Carving Competition" in Forksville, PA. It was our 2nd year carving at this two-day event. I carved a 7 foot "Wildlife Tree" and tied for 5th place in the Judge's Vote and tied for 3rd place in the Carver's Vote.

Judy was given the Echo 3450 Chainsaw for her Birthday by Rick, after he won it at the first "Mid-Winter Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous." She has been carving for two years alongside Rick. Her style of carving has been one that has involved and will always include curves and smoothness. She loves to flow with curly lines. Judy has a smaller variety thus far of Eagles, Bears, Angels, Mermaids, and Abstract Art. She has been carving at the Fairs and Shows with Rick in the summer months. This has helped her to grow faster. Being in front of a live audience really pushes you to stretch as an Artist.

Judy's Credentials are as follows:

  • May, 2000 - "Saws in the Swamp" Competition in Hollywood, FL. First time carving in public, I carved a 5 ft. "Mermaid." My piece was placed in the auction for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

  • Feb. 2001 - "Mid-Winter Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous" in Ridgway, PA. I carved a 4 ft. "Angel Bear." My piece was placed in the Make-A-Wish Foundation auction. I also tried carving Ice for the first time and it was fast and beautiful!

  • May, 2001 - "Carving For Kids" Competition in Reno, NV. I carved a 6 ft. "Double Eagle Pair" out of Redwood. I placed 3rd in the Novice Division and was given a trophy, a new Stihl 025 Chainsaw and Prize Money. I also received 3 Blue 1st place Ribbons and 1 Red 2nd Place Ribbon for the quick carve daily competitions and was given another new Stihl 025 Chainsaw and Prize Money. The auction benefited the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

  • Oct. 2001 - "Mid-Atlantic National Chainsaw Carving Competition" in Forksville, PA. I carved a 6 ft. "Angel." This Event also had a 45 minute quick carve each day and I carved a "Wipe Your Paws Bear" and a "Happy Halloween Pumpkin" and received money for Participation.

  • Dec. 2001- "Heart of Clarkston Holiday Festival" in Clarkson, MI. I carved a big 4 1/2 ft. "Candy Cane Bear" and placed 5th in the Open Class Division. I received a Ribbon and Prize Money. They had a 75 minute quick carve and I created a "Wipe Your Paws Bear." The auction proceeds went to the Lighthouse Emergency Services.

  • Mar. 2002 - "Ridgway Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous" in Ridgway, PA. I carved a 6 ft. "Sideways Flying Eagle" and placed it in the auction for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This was my 2nd Anniversary of Chainsaw Carving. They also had Totem Poles for all to carve on and that was another new fun thing to do. I put a "Heart" design on the pole.

  • Oct. 2002- "Mid-Atlantic National Chainsaw Carving Competition" in Forksville, PA. This was our 2nd year at this 2-day event. I carved a 6 foot "Angel."

A studio is set up in our garage at home. In this way we can carve at the same place, and have a wide selection of art pieces in one location.

I guess what Chainsaw Carving means to us is "Freedom!" The Freedom to carve a log into a designed piece of art. It's still exhilarating and amazing, and we Enjoy the work we do!