Dallas County
Chainsaw Sculpting and Woodwork
Randall Bruhn is a seasoned artisan and chainsaw carver based in Dallas County. Working primarily with cedar and red maple sourced from the surrounding woods and private landowners, Bruhn transforms raw logs into expressive works of art. Depending on the size and scope of a piece, his carvings can take anywhere from a few hours to several days to complete.
Bruhn’s artistic journey began decades ago in a high school woodworking class in Magnolia, Minnesota, where he first developed a love for shaping wood. Inspired by his grandfather, a German craftsman who enjoyed building and creating, Bruhn became the only one among his eight siblings to pursue art seriously. Although he has no formal training, he has spent more than fifty years refining his skills, teaching himself through hands-on experience and later by watching chainsaw carving demonstrations on YouTube after retirement.
His creative process is straightforward and intuitive: he envisions what he wants to carve, selects the right log, and begins shaping the piece. In addition to chainsaw carving, Bruhn has built freestanding cabinets, beds, and tables, and has created intricate intarsia-style wood inlay pieces.
Living near the Talladega National Forest profoundly influences his work. Surrounded by towering trees and natural beauty, Bruhn finds constant inspiration in the forest landscape. For him, woodworking remains a deeply rewarding creative outlet, transforming simple raw materials into meaningful, handcrafted art.