Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
by Ilona Packie
December 2024
Ken first met his client, Mary, three years ago when she requested a portrait of her German Shepherd. She was familiar with chainsaw carvings, having purchased simple black bear carvings in the Adirondacks, however Mary did not realize there were varying levels of the art form. Unfortunately, at the time they met, Ken was just beginning to build his log cabin.
Ken Packie and partner, Jake Swanson, posing with their nearly completed wyvern sculpture.
Photo: Ken Packie
Mary patiently waited a year for her dog sculpture. During that time, she visited his web page and saw carvings that were much bigger than actual logs. When Ken explained that he uses joinery to build outside the logs, she asked if he could carve a dragon. He was intrigued and asked whether she wanted a dragon or a wyvern? Her face immediately lit up when she realized he knew the difference. They discussed the size and the pose, and he estimated that he could make something approximately 24 feet long.
Thinking of the logistics of this undertaking, the first person who came to mind as a collaborator was a good friend and carver, Jake Swanson from Vermont. Ken met Jake 10 years ago at a carving show when he was just graduating high school. They shared a similar sense of humor, work ethic and attention to detail, and they hit it off immediately. Ken introduced Jake to his carving tribe and he soon became a part of the Bear Hollow Wood Carving team. Jake established himself as one of the best carvers in the world.
In October their schedules aligned and Ken was able to source large enough logs locally to get started, thanks to Ben in Mountain Grove (Becket) and Burdick Tree for delivery and staging of the logs. Mother Nature has been working in their favor – except the time change! After nine days of carving and an eight-foot-tall pile of negative space, aka all the wood that was removed, they created a 32-foot wyvern.
The sculpture was designed for the wings to detach at the shoulder and the body was built on a heavy-duty sled. This will permit the sculpture to be hoisted onto a trailer for delivery. The tail is separate and the wings and tail will be attached when on location at the client’s dragon garden. This sculpture is constructed of 32 separate pieces of wood, many of which are in the head to keep the grain running long wise for strength and durability. The head design was Jake’s, given he’s carved three wyverns before, including one at the World Cup in 2018 that won Governor’s Choice.
In mid-November Ken was working solo on the final details, shading and coloring. Jake will return to assist in the delivery process and to meet the soon-to-be thrilled customer.
