Wizard in wood..current chainsaw carving project

Hey all, I'd like to share a current project that I've just about completed.
A 6ft custom wizard for an excellent client.

Carved from a half rotten white pine log...repurposed...the logs I get for carving were all headed to the landfill. For those with green on the brain, I've never cut a tree down and make trees even more huggable🤪

The log...

Normally, with most projects like animals I've done a lot of, I just start cutting chunks off, instinctively knowing where the cuts need to be. But some have to be a little more carefully planned out.

So I cut a flat side, and marked my log. Do you see him?

A few hours later and he has emerged from that half rotten log.

Removed just enough wood, making him light enough to haul inside with the handcart. This time of year is cold, sometimes very cold. Not ideal for carving.

Can appeal to green folk on another note by saying I use battery powered chainsaws to save on emissions. A successful tactic in my sales pitch.

So after a few days of thawing out next to the wood furnace he was ready for detailing.

At this point, all but the bottom was, for the most part, carved and detailed with dremel/chisel.

Was having trouble with his eyes, just wasnt happy with them. There was enough wood there to cut out his irises and leave it simple.
Here he is with the detailing complete, now ready for some color.

A little torch action gif...