Power Carving Workshop with Australia’s Best

Ian Bell conducted his own Arbortech Inspired Power Carving Workshop at the Scuptures @ Killalea Art Festival in late September.

Ian is a talented artist and wood sculptor and is also a long term user and advocate of Arbortech power carving tools. For this reason, he led the workshop with live demonstrations and education on the art of woodworking and power carving. Furthermore, being a strong advocate for sustainability he naturally demonstrated the tools on an old telegraph pole, transforming what was once a support for overhead power lines into a piece of art.

Over the course of the weekend he power carved a Goanna clinging to a tree, Ian says “this is also an example of up cycling a material that would otherwise have been destined for someone’s fireplace”. Ian’s artist statement includes “My medium of choice is wood sourced sustainably and I agree with and practice the philosophy of having respect for the material and consider my work as a collaboration with the tree and allow part of the grain, or “personality” to show in evidence of a life once lived.” We strongly support this mentality as a company, in the way we design our products down to what we use in our inspirational projects, sustainability is key.

Ian skillfully applies a range of Arbortech tools to create his unique and contemporary wood carvings inspired by Australian animals, shapes and textures. Combining Aussie talent with Aussie tools.

Ian Bell using the Mini Grinder

Want to learn more about Ian Bell, his work, and his story?

Then read our Q&A blog post with him here.