Artist Uses Chainsaw to Carve Giant Octopus into a Fallen Redwood Tree

redwood tree octopus sculpture

American chainsaw artist Jeffrey Michael Samudosky recently transformed a redwood snag into a magnificent giant octopus. Carved to perfection, its giant tentacles stretch out, tapering off in refined detail.

Working out of Gig Harbor, Washington, Samudosky is a self-taught carver who started his company, JMS Wood Sculpture, in 1998. Since starting his career, Samudosky has appeared on the Discovery Channel and participated in competitions around the world.

The massive sea creature, which has influenced art from large-scale octopus installations to sculptural candies, gives off an impressive air, as it looks to almost be swimming through water. The trunk, which was provided by Redwood Burl, dwarves Samudosky, who painstakingly worked to chisel out the animal's final form.

Interestingly, Samudosky began his journey with chainsaw art after a snowboarding accident left him without feeling in his legs for eight months. After regaining his mobility, he decided to conquer his fears and begin snowboarding again. It was during a trip to the mountains in Vermont that he spied wood carvings on the side of the road, and from there he taught himself the artistic skill.

Now, carving is his full-time career. Focusing on animals and Native American motifs, some pieces have taken up to four years in order to reach his desired level of perfection.

Expert chainsaw carver Jeffrey Michael Samudosky used part of a dead redwood tree to create his incredible octopus sculpture.

JMS Wood Sculpture - Chainsaw Art JMS Wood Sculpture - Chainsaw Art

Images of the sculpture in progress show us the wood carver's creative process.

JMS Wood Sculpture - Chainsaw Carving

JMS Wood Sculpture - Chainsaw Art

JMS Wood Sculpture - Chainsaw Carving

JMS Wood Sculpture - Chainsaw Carving

chainsaw sculpture octopus sculpture from redwood tree
Samudosky puts an incredible amount of detail into the octopus sculpture, from the long tentacles to rounded suckers.
redwood tree octopus sculpture

JMS Wood Sculpture - Chainsaw Carving
JMS Wood Sculpture - Chainsaw Art
chainsaw sculpture octopus sculpture from redwood tree

chainsaw sculpture octopus sculpture from redwood tree

JMS Wood Sculpture - Chainsaw Carving
The result is a mindblowing piece of art.
redwood tree octopus art

JMS Wood Sculpture - Chainsaw Art

JMS Wood Sculpture - Chainsaw Carving

JMS Wood Sculpture: Website | Facebook 
h/t: [reddit]

Related Articles:

Estonian Artist Uses a Chainsaw to Carve a Fantastical Dragon Bench

Raw Tree Stump Seamlessly Extends into a Polished Wooden Table

Remarkably Lifelike Wooden Animals Sculpted Using a Chainsaw

Unbelievably Mysterious Tree Sculptures

Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book 'Street Art Stories Roma' and most recently contributed to 'Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini'. You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits

Sponsored Content