It is common to think of quilting, cooking or gardening as skills that mothers pass along to their daughters.
Chainsaw carving may not come to mind at first, but Amanda Campbell has taken to the unique style and business of her award winning carver mother.
Cindy Servis, of Chainsaw Carvings in International Falls, has practiced woodburning, airbrushing and sculpture since she was young, and now incorporates those skills into her chainsaw carving. She learned after stopping to watch another artist on the roadside.
Since 2005 she has won honors in three competitive events.
With the coming of summer, Servis will set up shop on vacant lots along busy roads, carving bears, wolves, horses and eagles from red and white pine or cedar — wood that cuts forgivingly and stands up to the test of time in all types of weather. She also creates furniture from her animal woodcarvings.
Servis has two children with her spouse, Scott Campbell. Her son, Cody, is just now practicing with his toy chainsaw.
Her daughter, Amanda Campbell, 18, said she has always had an artistic side, but did not get into wood carving until recently. She is learning the skill from her mother.
In just three weeks, Campbell has already mastered the dog and bear, which she says are beginner animals, along with carving “welcome” and other words into the side of logs for use on lawns.
Using three different size chainsaws, she can quickly rip through logs and also work with the utmost delicacy to get the detail.
The key, Campbell says, “is not to push down too hard.”
“I am really proud of her,” said Servis. “She is already a talented artist and picked this up very quickly. She is already as good as other artists I know that have been doing this for much longer.”
Campbell is also learning the art of pyrography from her mother. The ancient wood burning style creates a nearly photo quality image from wood soldering and ash.
The ambitious teen also loves horseback riding, fishing and camping. She swears off junk food and soda and has ambitions to go to medical school.
View the work of these women at www.chainsaw-chick.com.
