Amazing what Griffon can do with a chainsaw. Impressive!
Artist Griffon Ramsey creates magic with her chainsaw and in the video below you can watch her work her sorcery as she sculpts the character Groot out of Easter Red Cedar. If you don’t already know, Groot is from the blockbuster film Guardians of the Galaxy, which has generated over $300 million at the box office.
The video is excellent showcase for her as an artist; breaking down her process step-by-step allowing you to see her commitment to her art. Nobody thinks of a chainsaw as an elegant tools to for fine detailed work but in the hands of Griffon it seems to be. She transcends the limitations of the saw and turns it into a paintbrush. I don’t pretend to be an expert on chainsaw art, although I am an artist myself, Griffon is a fantastic artist in her own right. Watch the video and admire her work.It looks like Griffon is a big fan of STIHL as you’ll see in the video, and you’ll also notice she’s wearing STIHL earrings in a closeup shot. Maybe STIHL is her sponsor.
If you hurry, you can purchase Groot because at the time of this posting it’s still available from her online store for a paltry $875 (about £544 AU$993), plus shipping costs. But, it may not be available if you’re reading this tomorrow.
You can catch a glimpse into the mind and history of Griffon through her own words from her website:
I’m Griffon Ramsey, a sculpture artist working out of the FORT, a unique art space I opened in Austin, Texas. Descended from a family of loggers and working class poets, pumpkin carvers and holiday window painters, scavengers who carved their own false teeth out of bone and musicians with handmade gas-can guitars- I considers myself genetically bound to be resourceful, creative, and rebellious. I grew up in Kings Valley, an official ghost town in northwest Oregon. My childhood memories are all infused with wood; giant fir forests, a whittling grandfather, enchanting visits to totem poles along the coast, and a brief gig working at a Christmas tree farm.
I have to admit, the concept of creation through destruction appeals to me – cutting out what doesn’t need to be there to reveal the things that matter. In 2011, I picked up my first chainsaw and immediately fell in love with its power, versatility, and speed. It’s a great tool for an impatient person. Wood has become my medium of choice, as it lasts much longer than the ephemeral theatrical sets and props I started my career with (not to mention it smells amazing).
Process
I always begin with the hunt for wood, either by checking local sawmills or meeting strangers from Craigslist all alone out in the wilderness. The available material often informs the design, depending on I’m able to find. In Texas, I usually work with Eastern Red Cedar but I’ve begun to branch out with other varieties. Sometimes I sketch on paper, but more often than not I’ll sketch directly onto the wood with the tip of my chainsaw bar, pausing between major cuts to get my bearings and sketch again on the newly exposed wood. While most chainsaw artists are inspired by nature, I feel more in tune with fantasy, magic, tarot, tattoos, pop and gaming culture, as well as the various subcultures I mingle with.
Photos of Griffon at Work
Griffon Ramsey giving you her look of pride.
It’s a dirty art form as you can see by the dirt she’s wearing.
STIHL appears to be her brand of choice.