Martin credits his talent to God who he said gave him the ability to create things using a chainsaw.

“I go to God before I start each carving and ask him what he thinks I should carve,” Martin said. “I believe he gives me the inspiration to come up with a new idea and without him I wouldn’t be able to do any of this.”

A carpenter and painter by trade, Martin works on the sculptures in his free time due to the majority of the sculptures taking several hours to complete.

Martin has an area in his backyard where he devotes a large majority of his time creating new sculptures with pieces of scrap from old pine trees surrounding him as he works.

“Typically, most of the sculptures take up to six hours to complete,” Martin said. “I did have an angel that took almost 14 hours because it took a while to shape her face with the chainsaw.”

Martin uses a 14-inch Poulan chainsaw to cut through the pieces of wood he has collected from various places with fallen timber.

Although Martin said he is negotiable with his prices for most of his work, they range in price from $50-$125 depending on the particular sculpture.

Martin said the most enjoyable part of creating the sculptures is being able to create something out of a chunk of wood.

“When I first lost my daughter I started carving and it helped me to heal,” Martin said. “There is something about losing something you loved and cherished and then making someone else happy with something you have created.”

Martin said he hopes the wooden creations will continue to grow into different themes including a nativity scene, a Noah’s Ark creation and a large lion.

“I have a lot of different ideas I would like to try in the future and I look forward to being able to try them out,” Martin said.

For more information on Martin’s creations, call 467-8667.