From Surf City to Sawdust: The Chainsaw Art of Johnny Kimball

By Marie KennedyThe Mountain Times

You’ve probably seen them – wooden bears on porches, eagles perched at the end of driveways, and the occasional Sasquatch standing tall in someone’s yard. These chainsaw-carved sculptures are more than decorations. They’re expressions of creativity, made from logs and stumps by artists with a steady hand and a clear vision.

One of those artists is Johnny Kimball.

Kimball has lived in the Mount Hood area for ten years, but he only started carving with a chainsaw about two and a half years ago. You might not guess that by looking at his work. His carvings, whether whimsical or striking, show a strong eye for design and detail. He approaches each project thoughtfully, whether it’s a freestanding sculpture or a carving made directly from the stump of a felled tree.

“Yeah, that’s really important to me,” Kimball says when asked about his attention to detail. He often follows up with clients after a year or two to see if the finish needs a touch-up.

His first commission came after he left a card at Welches Building Supply. A friend encouraged him to take on a tall stump at a rental property up Lolo Pass. “I learned on that piece,” he says. “I just kept adding on to it.” The result is a layered sculpture: on one side, a man’s face and a soaring bird; elsewhere, a hobbit-like door with steps with a small figure in a window looking out, a large tentacled creature, birds, squirrels, frogs, and a gnome tucked near the base. The more you look, the more you see.

Kimball grew up in Surf City, California, and got his start in the arts early. “In the ’80s, it was a thing for moms to take their kids to classes while they shopped,” he recalls. “When I was about four, my mom started dropping me off in art classes, and I really enjoyed it.” Over the years, he developed his skills – sketching, and painting in oil and acrylic – which now shape the way he approaches carving, and how he thinks about line, balance, and movement.

Slender and soft-spoken, Kimball brings a quiet focus to his work. “It all starts with the client,” he says. “What are they asking for? That’s the beginning of the design.” His sculptures vary widely, from playful animals to more stylized or symbolic figures. He’s currently working on a custom gate featuring carved elements for a property in Brightwood, where another of his pieces already stands: a carved highland cow’s head, complete with shaggy fur and textured horns. It’s bold and full of character.

Tools matter in this line of work. Kimball owns a dozen chainsaws, plus a range of chisels, dremels, and sanders. His work truck includes a custom-built pull-out tray that he designed to keep his gear accessible and organized on the job. Whether he’s carving in a backyard or deep in the woods, everything he needs is within reach.

Hanz, his shepherd-akita mix, often tags along – hopping in and out of the truck and enjoying the woods nearby while Kimball works.

Ten years ago, he left a corporate job in lending to look for something different. Now, surrounded by trees, tools, and the smell of fresh-cut cedar, he’s built a quieter life – and a body of work that’s as rooted in craft as it is in imagination.

“I really enjoy what I do,” he says. And it shows – in every bear, Sasquatch, or tentacled creature keeping watch from a yard somewhere in the mountain community.”

You can find more of Johnny’s work at StumpTownCarving.com or on social media @stumptown_carving.