This incredible and intricate dragon bench was carved using a chainsaw
November 17th, 2020
I absolutely love dragons, and I can’t think of a single person who doesn’t at least think they’re cool. What’s not to love a mythical, winged, fire-breathing reptile? Igor Loskutow, an Estonian wood artist, adores them quite a lot too.
Igor is no typical, everyday wood carving artist. He works with a chainsaw, but you can hardly tell from how finely carved all the details on his pieces are. One piece of his that’s caught the internet’s collective attention is this dragon bench.
https://www.facebook.com/holzskulptur/photos/a.2268742633454984/2268746800121234
Yes, a bench adorned with a dragon’s head and body, carved entirely with a chainsaw. The actual bench may be all wood, but the mere concept is 100% metal.
https://www.facebook.com/holzskulptur/photos/a.2268742633454984/2268746463454601
Igor was kind enough to respond to an email from me, in which I asked for his thoughts on working on the project, as well as some small talk about dragons in pop culture.
https://www.facebook.com/holzskulptur/photos/a.2268742633454984/2268751040120810
“Firstly, how many years did you spend learning how to carve with a chainsaw, considering how dangerous and otherwise impractical for carving a chainsaw is?”“Chainsaw work was not new to me: I am a lumberjack by profession. And by the beginning of my “creative career” I could already do a lot. The impetus was the traditional Russian woodcarving with an ax. I decided to try doing it with a chainsaw. And I did it !!! This was in 2002. That’s when I started cutting. From my first sculpture (it was an eagle), I knew for sure that I would be a professional carver. In 2004, I saw the work of American and Canadian carvers. By that time they were recognized masters. Their skill amazed and inspired me. At first I worked as a regular saw for lumberjacks. Over time, the carving technique and technical capabilities of the instrument improved and I wanted to do more and more complex things. I was not interested in endlessly repeating simple works. I also tried to develop my own style. I think it learned …”
Having already been a lumberjack, working with a chainsaw was second nature to Igor. Like a pencil artist learning how to use ink and markers.
https://www.facebook.com/holzskulptur/photos/a.1486200245042564/2398924260436820
Of course, we’re all here to see the dragon. No one would put this much effort into a dragon project if they didn’t love dragons. Whether it’s Smaug from The Hobbit, Drogon from A Song of Ice and Fire, Alduin from the Elder Scrolls V or Monster Hunter’s Fatalis.
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Igor’s bench displays a mighty dragon, with its outstretched wing doubling as the leaning rest for the bench. One of its claws rests on the right hand side. Though despite the spikiness, the bench is probably comfier than it looks.
Dragons are revered and adored. The fact that they’ve stuck around our collective imaginations for centuries is a testament to their might and wonder, no doubt.
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Igor was ecstatic to receive an order for a bench with a dragon adorning it. He knew he had to do the mythical beast’s justice, and even listened to the audiobook of A Song of Ice And Fire while working on it.
“Some folks on the internet have compared this bench to the architecture in Skyrim, and others have name-dropped the Targaryens in A Song of Ice and Fire. Though what are your personal favorite dragons in most works of fiction, and were any of them partly a reference or inspiration for this bench?”“Over time, I started to like making dragons. They are beautiful!! Plus it’s an endless, inexhaustible and inspiring theme !!! Once I received an order to make a bench with a dragon … I was extremely happy! I made a sketch literally “on my knee” in 5 minutes during the breakfast break! The work took 2 weeks. I tried to introduce new and unusual elements into the work that no one had done before. It was incredibly interesting!”
Igor definitely got into the mood when working on it.
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“After the bench was ready, I put it up on Facebook. In three days she was 140,000 shared! Of course, while making the bench, I was inspired by the audiobook “A Song of Ice and Fire”, which I listened to during my work! I listened to it many times. After that, I received other orders for such a bench. Each time she was a little different. I added new elements to it. So, we can say that each work is unique!”
I’m sure either the Targaryens or the Greybeards would love to commission for one of these benches too.
This isn’t the only chainsaw-carved project Igor has produced, nor the only dragon-themed on either.
Hey, maybe you could commission one from Igor too, if you have the cash. Wouldn’t you love to have a bench with Alduin, Alatreon or Smaug on it? Igor has even done a Nazgul aboard a fell beast (it may not be a proper dragon, but it definitely looks the part).
Igor’s incredible craftsmanship is as legendary as dragons themselves, and like he mentioned earlier, you can sign up for classes under him.
You know, if you’re brave enough to handle a chainsaw.
But practice and hard work pays off, as Igor’s handy work shows. He’s as graceful as a painter with a brush, except his brush has spinning blades and makes loud noises.
Though he needs some exposure and demand first if he’s teaching classes. When this pandemic is over, and you happen to be itching for some niche new skill to learn, maybe you could pay him a visit and take some lessons.
Or if you’re a fantasy lover with a ton of cash to spare, maybe you could commission one yourself.
Thanks for taking a look at this awesome and downright mythical work of art with us. Please click the share button, and let more people know of Igor’s skill and services. It’ll be greatly appreciated!
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Source: [Igor Loskutow’s website, Igor-Art Holzskulpturen, @igorloskutow on Instagram]