RM Timbercraft

CARVING OUT A BEAUTIFUL LIFE FROM TIMBER

RM TIMBERCRAFT

Russell Manchur

By Talena Winters Photography by Paul Lavoie Images

E RM Timbercraft

k russellmanchur@gmail.com While on a camping trip years ago, a retired log home builder gave Russell Manchur, 40, some very sage advice. “He said, ‘when you don’t know what to do, figure it out—and stay out of the bar because you only have so much time to learn stuff,’” said Manchur. Manchur, who grew up in Edmonton and now lives in Northern Sunrise County, took that advice to heart.He began learning the craft of log cabin building and soon after began doing chainsaw wood carvings.

Today, his business, RM Timbercraft, keeps the him busy, and his artistic creations are in high demand.

What got you into making chainsaw wood carvings? Back when I was 19, my buddy and I got into an argument about the 12 Foot Davis statue and wondered why it was downtown and not at his gravesite. I decided I would make a carving to go there myself. It never happened and I don’t think it ever will, but that was the first time I thought I could be a carver.

Later, I was working out of town and decided to use my evenings and weekends to get better at carving. I’d had experience sculpting drywall mud while working for Paint Master and Lavergne Construction and discovered I was a natural. That was the first sign I could make something out of nothing. The first carving I did was a log with a bear on it. It’s been beside my driveway for years.

What about your process is important to you? I love trees, and the wood that comes from them is awesome to make things with. In every block of wood, there’s unknown forms waiting to be discovered. As the builder, I have to coax the appropriate shape out of the tree form, facilitating the transformation from the unknown to the known. That’s where I find purpose and meaning in work and in life.

Whether I’m making cabins or carvings, it all starts with the design. Then you have to do an accurate layout, execute your cuts with as much skill as possible, and then when you’re done, make sure it’s done—finish the piece with stain, get it out of the elements if possible, and then you’re good.

For the carvings, I let my spirit guide me. A lot of good things come out of that. You have to be able to let loose and grow, but you also have to be able to stick to the rules to make sure it turns out as good as you can

Tell us about what you make. The cabins are full-scribe stack log and half-log post and beam. I keep the sizes small because the big houses lose their charm to me—it’s possible to get too much of a good thing.

I make carvings of bears, faces, eagles and more. If it’s a big piece, I make a small practice piece first. I can’t keep the wood feathers around. I’ve got raven, hawk and eagle feathers copied straight from Mother Nature’s design. I paint and stain them and try to make them as realistic as I can.

Most of the wood comes from the forest. It’s important to me that my products are locally sourced.

Where can people purchase your products? I have items at both Modern Paint & Décor and Main Street Shell in Peace River, or you can find me on Facebook under RM Timbercraft. My phone number is on there, or email me at russellmanchur@gmail.com