The Ultimate Guide to Chainsaw Carved Bears

Chainsaw carved bears are a popular form of rustic cabin art that involves using a chainsaw to carefully sculpt a log into the shape of a bear. The process is both challenging and time-consuming, but the end result is a one-of-a-kind, rustic piece that is sure to be a conversation starter in any home or garden. Whether you are looking for a unique gift for a nature lover or simply want to add a whimsical piece to your outdoor space, chainsaw carved bears are a charming and eye-catching choice!

A chainsaw carved bear is by far one of the most popular sculpture types for chainsaw carving. With that comes many different variations of carved bears. Below are several different styles of chainsaw bears!

Painted Carved Bears

The black bear is synonymous with the north woods and fits in perfectly with the cabin vibe that many people are after when looking to purchase a chainsaw carved bear. With most logs being a brownish tan color, a lot of chainsaw bears have a natural wood finish where a clear coat is the only finish applied. 

Painting a finished chainsaw bear carving takes the detailing a step further. That is where finer finishing touches can be added to make the carving look more realistic. Carvers tend to gravitate towards three different types of paint. They will finish the carving off with either an air brush, spray paint, or a brush on application. Each has their own benefits and downside to use but all provide a nice flat black finish. Some bears are also finished with a clear coat to help protect the wood. 

Here are a few examples of painted carved bears that would be perfect for any addition to your home!

Standing Carved Bears

Standing carved bears or a slightly crouching stance are popular among bear carvings for the simple fact they fit well within the confines of a log. Proportionally they look the best anywhere from 2 to 4 feet depending on the diameter of the log. Their more vertical presentation makes them great options to be placed on the side of an entryway or in the corner of a room or deck. 

Carved bears that are standing have defined legs that can be separated in the middle to make them look realistic and give the bear added character and detail. More difficult plunge cuts are required to create that effect. 

Standing bears are a great option for any home or cabin and here are a few options that showcase that.

Laying Down Carved Bears

While standing carved bears are the most popular, another variety of carving that is sure to add character to any room or outdoor space is a bear that is laying down. Some can be positioned to sit on top of a railing or curled up in a corner. Regardless of the placement, these unique positions bring a unique character that is not seen as often as other types of carvings. 

Typically these carvings are easier to carve since body posture is more relaxed than if they were standing up right. Not as much definition is needed to shape out the arms and legs. One of the key cuts on a laying down carved bear is the one on the bottom. With a larger surface area typically touching the surface it is laying on, straight cuts are necessary so the piece does not have an uneven rock to it. 

Laying down carved bears come in all shapes and sizes, here are a few examples of what people have carved in the past.

Small Carved Bears

Small chainsaw carved bears can range in sizes from a few inches to 2 ft. They make great gifts as they can be easily shipped, unlike most other chainsaw carved bears. They range in variety of detail and often require the use of a small chainsaw bar and finished with a dremel or die grinder with a sharp carbide burr.

With the ease of transportation, these types of carved bears can be more readily available. Some of the best places to look for small carved bears are online and craft shops in your local area. The finishes on these carvings can range from untouched to painted with details or clear coated to protect the wood’s natural look.  

Small bears are a great way to learn if you are starting out with chainsaw carving. Here are a few examples of small chainsaw carved bears.

Carved Bears with Welcome Sign

There is no better way to be inviting to your guests than with a chainsaw carved bear with a welcome sign. This type of bear works well at a lodge, vacation rental, or even your own home. Each unique carving brings an added character to the location when you first pull up and see if for the first time. 

Chainsaw carved bears with a welcome sign come in many different varieties. Most common would be standing up holding a horizontal sign. There are also variations where the sign runs vertically with the length of the bear. Either way, one of the most common finishes for a welcome sign carved bear is to be burned with a torch and then lightly sanded to add depth to the piece. It is also a good idea to finish the carving with a clear coat to protect it from the elements. 

A welcome sign is the perfect way to welcome any guest, attaching it to a chainsaw carved bear takes it to another level! Here are some examples of welcome carved bears that would look great on any front porch or driveway.

Where to Buy Chainsaw Carved Bears

Summer Festivals

By far the most popular time to buy carvings are during summer festivals. Chainsaw carvers typically have a “Show Season” where they are traveling around to different fairs and festivals with a trailer full of carvings for sale. They may also do live demonstrations where you could talk with them about carving a custom piece for you.

State and county fairs along with town wide events are a great place to look. Most of the events will have an exhibitor list where you can see who will be attending the show. If you plan on buying a carving from one of these shows make sure to bring a large enough vehicle. You may be attracted to a carving with some size to it!

Local Craft Stores

Check where you live for craft or small hobby/art stores. There are chainsaw carvers spread throughout the United States and many have relationships with stores to help sell their carving and get in front of people they may not have gotten in front of if they only sold direct. 

Call ahead to save yourself some time also. Even if a store may not carry chainsaw carved bears themself, they may know of a store that does. Just like at summer festivals, it’s a good idea to bring a vehicle that has a lot of room. Carvings can be huge and you don’t want to miss out on an opportunity to get the one you want because you can’t fit it in your car!

Call to Order

There are many different types of chainsaw carvers that sell different products. Some only sell “production” pieces that they carve over and over at a more affordable price. Others will travel to you to carve a custom bear depending on the stump you have available. 

This is a great option if you recently had to take a tree down or one was toppled over by a storm and the stump is still intact. Once you give a local carver a call and give them all the details (size, location, pictures) they can give you a quote on what it would cost to carve it. Looking at some past example carvings will give you an idea of what the carved bear would look like on your tree.

Online

Just like with virtually everything in this world now, chainsaw carved bears can be bought online. Since solid wood carvings are usually pretty heavy, buying carvings online are usually on the smaller side. They are exactly like their larger counterparts but smaller for ease of shipping. You can still find great detail and there is a wide selection of carved bears on online marketplaces. 

Some of the best websites to look for chainsaw bear carvings are etsy and ebay. There are many carvers who use those platforms to sell their carvings to people across the country and they will ship it right to your front door!

Finding Chainsaw Carvers Near You

You may not think chainsaw carved bears are near you because they are not seen often in stores, but with a quick google search or maps search you may be surprised to find a carver in your area. You can also check out the link below where we have compiled a list of chainsaw carvers across the United States and their contact info. 

List of chainsaw carvers by state and their contact info (coming soon)

Chainsaw Bear Pattern

The chainsaw carved bear is the most recognizable carving of all chainsaw carvings. It is the highest volume selling animal amongst chainsaw carvers, therefore it is no wonder that the bear is the first shape a lot of carvers want to learn as they are getting started. 

There are several different ways to learn how to carve but one of the simplest ways is to follow a pattern template that shows you what cuts to make to take a log and carve it into a bear. We broke down a simple template that will give you a better idea and the confidence to start carving bears for yourself. The link below will show you how to carve a chainsaw bear. 

How to chainsaw carve a bear (with template) – coming soon