BRISTOL -- An artist is trying to make a name for himself, and he is creating a buzz, which makes sense since his paintbrush is a chainsaw.
Jared Welcome is the artist behind JareBear Carvings, and he is among the few chainsaw sculptors in the state.
"You are taking a piece of wood that somebody might throw out or use for mulch and you are turning it into a piece of art," Welcome said.
As he was making strategic cuts into a life-sized grizzly bear sculpture that is set up on a lot behind Black Bear Auto in Bristol--which lets him use their space as a studio--Welcome added, "I can go up to any tree which is a blank canvas to me and there;s nothing there, I can see an animal or an object inside that log."
By day, Welcome works as an electro-mechanical teacher at MacDougall Correctional Institution in Suffield. But in his spare time he picks up his trusty Husqvarna chainsaw and makes his mark.
Welcome specializes in creating animal carvings of all sizes and recently has used his chainsaw for charity, donating works to the Humane Society and an Autism fund.
"I want to make people happy," he said, "and I want to inspire people, I want them to step outside and know they can use the resources around to create things."
Down the road, Welcome says he hopes to enter carving competitions.
JareBear Carvings creates custom works for customers. Large sculptures, like the 13-foot high bear Jared is currently working on in Bristol, can fetch prices up to $2,500, while smaller pieces go for $250. To find out more click here.
