Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlie R
Hi Charlie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Charlie and I’m 29 years old and I’m a chainsaw carver! My journey into chainsaw carving began about a year and a half ago when I met a carver through an art Facebook group. After watching him work for a few weeks, I couldn’t resist giving it a try myself. I invested in the tools, got to work, and quickly found my passion in transforming wood into art. In my first month, I carved 32 pieces and was quickly hooked!
I create a wide variety of pieces, from giant strawberries and whimsical morel mushrooms to intricate animated characters. No two projects are alike, and I love bringing creativity to each new piece. I chainsaw carve with Stihl chainsaws and have carved at a few festivals and events. My partner does onsite chainsaw carvings, pet portraits, and intricate wildlife carvings.
While I’m based in Gatlinburg Tennessee at Woogity Wood Works (2717 East Parkway), I’m proud to ship my work to customers in other states as well.
In addition to carving, I’m a mom to a vibrant toddler who keeps me inspired every day and on my toes. Outside of my work, I enjoy cooking, hiking, and sharing my journey through social media, especially on TikTok. Through my content and reaching around 50,000 followers at the moment, I aim to encourage others—especially children and young girls—to explore chainsaw carving or any art form that ignites their passion. I encourage more women to try woodworking and use power tools because they honestly are so much fun!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No it has not. I get a lot of comments from people online, men in particular who think i don’t know how to run a saw. I am constantly questioned far more than my male partner about our work without people knowing which pieces are ours. I am was a single mom for awhile and struggling to provide and deciding art was the way to go was scary. I didn’t know if I would make it or if I was strong enough to keep going. I cried so many nights but carved all day and posted online hoping to catch a break and I did. I got on tiktok one day last summer and got 3,000 viewers. It went up to 6k and I went from 1200 to 25,000 followers in 2 weeks and our shop got filled with people coming to visit and meet me. I genuinely was blown away and I’ve been growing my channel and work every since.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What do I do?
I carve dreams into wood—literally! As a chainsaw carver i turn logs into wild, whimsical, and completely unexpected sculptures. From oversized strawberries that look good enough to eat to a Pickle Rick, I bring a playful twist to traditional carving. My pieces aren’t just art; they’re conversation starters—and meant to last for years.
What do I specialize in?
One day I might be carving a deviled egg; the next, I’m tackling a custom design sasquatch that has me thinking, “How can I make this even cooler?” Every piece is unique, and I love adding details that make people smile. I love doing mixed media pieces and I want to get more into adding glass or metal to my pieces. I mainly use cedar, paulownia, and white pine. I use a Stihl MS170, 182, and 211.
What am I known for?
I’m known for bringing a fresh, fun energy to chainsaw carving. Let’s face it—chainsaw carving can seem intimidating, but I make it approachable and exciting. Through my TikTok videos and social media, I show the process—the sparks, the sawdust, and especially the mistakes—because I want people to see the magic (and chaos) behind the art.
What am I most proud of?
I’m proud of carving out my own space in this world! A year and a half ago, I knew nothing about chainsaw carving. I met a guy in a Facebook art group, watched him carve for a couple of weeks, and thought, “Why not me?” I bought the tools, jumped in, and never looked back. Now, I’m shipping my art across the country, making a living doing what I love, and showing my toddler that it’s okay to dream big and go after it—even with a chainsaw in hand!
What sets me apart?
Let’s start with the obvious—I’m a mom and a woman. Those two things arent normally associated with power tools and a full time art career I have a bachelors degree, and I used to run a small farm, but now I wield a chainsaw for a living. What is that? Haha. Madness! That’s not exactly the traditional artist story! I bring my love of nature, my passion for learning, and a fearless creativity to everything I do. I’m not just carving logs; I’m carving new ideas into a field that can sometimes feel old-school.
I think what really makes me different is how I connect with people. My work is fun and relatable, but it’s also about inspiring others, especially kids and young girls, to try something new—even if it’s messy, loud, and a little unconventional. I’m not just here to carve wood; I’m here to show the world that art has no rules, and anyone can pick up a saw (or any tool) and create something incredible.
When I’m not carving, I’m working on pottery, writing, doing oddity work or hiking in the Smoky Mountains brainstorming my next crazy idea. Life is loud, chaotic, and full of sawdust—but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love Knoxville because of the people. I have found such hardworking and strong individuals in this town and I believe this city can do great things! I wish we had a higher art priority and involving kids in trades. I would love to work with the city in providing free workshops for parents to have free childcare at times to learn themselves and workshops with their kids to build things and learn. I have lived in Tennessee almost 4 years and I have loved it so much. It’s a beautiful state with a lot of potential!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechainsawbunny?igsh=MTM3dTZrd2lzOGtwaA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095235016589&mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thechainsawbunny?si=hSN-dQ3GuzDH0DqO
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechainsawbunny?_t=ZP-8tRz3EwJq7L&_r=1
