A 2023 Publication of Nevada News Group
New life for old wood: (Below left) Ham found this hollow tree stump in the hills and made it into a honeycomb using his chainsaw and recycled plastic.
When people look at a log, they might wonder how long it would burn or if it’s hiding bugs under the bark. Not Danny Ham. The Winnemucca native and father of 5 looks into a chunk of wood and wonders what sculpture is trapped inside. The chainsaw-wielding wood carving artist has been
reactions from clients and loved ones.
perfecting his craft for the last 8 years with about 80-
He can carve an iconic 4-foot bear from
90% of his creations donated to various organizations
a stump in about 3 hours.
and fundraisers. Like many artists, Ham is self-trained. He’s been artistic his whole life, dabbling in different forms like
His finished products take some extra artistic touches of varnish, paint and wood burning.
drawing, hand carving, building furniture, tattoos and
People may wonder how a sculptor
spray paint murals. He took up chainsaw carving in
decides what to create; how they know
2015.
what that block of wood or stone con-
“Instead of sticking to the same field for my whole
tains. Ham said, “I don’t really exactly
life, I saw a YouTube video and a guy was doing some
have a plan when I first start. I just know,
chainsaw carvings. So, I decided to get up off the couch
and I trust myself.” He said the design
and go to Reliable when they were closing down, and I
forms as he goes. “It’s amazing what
got a cheap electric saw ... and I went home and start-
you can come up with when you put a
ed doing it,” he said. Since then, his skills have grown
few cuts into something.”
along with his tools, but he said one of his favorite parts
Once the idea takes hold, though,
of working in this particular medium is the thrill of con-
Ham said it’s hard to shake it. “It just
ning globe nestled in a curved base and a motocross
fidently carving into a chunk of wood and seeing the
seems like if I get an idea in my head the night before,
inspired dirt bike wheel trophy among many, many
finished product emerge. Because of the nature of the
I go insane if I don’t get it into reality the next day,” he
others. There is also a sculpture of an underground
work, Ham said he can go only “so far with the chain-
said.
miner on a pedestal in C and is currently working
saw before you ruin it”, so the work has to be done relatively quickly.
Examples of what “a few cuts” have already led to: a lion’s face roaring from a mane of tree roots, a giant
“Being able to do something quickly and with confi-
chain of separate links cut from a single trunk, Thor’s
dence” is a favorite part of the carving process, as well
hammer Mjolnir balanced on one beveled edge, a
as seeing his vision come to life and the subsequent
sleepily grinning sloth clinging to a tree trunk, a spin-
on a dragon. Many of his pieces adorn properties in Winnemucca; two of his carvings flank the entrance to the city’s golf course. Continued Inside
Inside Northern Nevada May 2023 - 1