Sculptors 2022
Meet the sculptors!
A total of 26 sculptors will participate in the Bear Sculpting Championships from Thursday to Saturday 11th-13th August 2022, of which 21 will also participate in the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday 13th August.
Sculptors are introduced here in alphabetical order by surname.
Raimo Hautaluoma, Kurikka
Sculpting is an essential part of Raimo’s life. When he has time off from his job as a farm helper, he sometimes sculpts with his chainsaw for up to seven or eight hours a day. “While carving is physical, just like working on a farm, it helps me to recover, relax and calm down.” What attracts him to Ilomantsi is the relaxed atmosphere and meeting his fellow-sculptors and friendly locals.
Raimo will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Esko Heikura, Kuhmo
Esko starts his bigger chainsaw sculptures by drawing a sketch and making an image from at least two perspectives – this helps him to visualise the work in its three dimensional form. His works are characterised by carefully executed details. Esko loves nature. ”I’m a keen ornithologist, and I also photograph birds.”
In Ilomantsi, Esko will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Urpo Huotari, Paltamo
For Urpo, wood sculpting is a natural continuation of his decades-long career as a lumberjack. When he starts sculpting, he is not always sure what the outcome will be, and often his plans change during coffee breaks as the work progresses. Urpo has mainly sculpted bears but also some birds and dogs.
Urpo will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Christian Häggman, Pedersöre
Christian found out about chainsaw carving from the internet: ”I first started watching chainsaw sculpting videos online, and in 2017, I started practicing. I have mainly carved bears, but also other animals such as lynxes, hares, otters and eagles.” Working with wood is familiar for Christian, because he studied to be an artisan.
Christian will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Jari Kinnunen, Suomussalmi
Jari likes carving large animals with his chainsaw, animals, like moose. Jari thinks that what makes a good sculptor is having an awareness of what you are going to sculpt. “You need to see the sculpture in your mind in advance.” Jari spends a lot of time finishing his works, and he focuses on getting the right look and character for his sculptures.
He will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August.
Tarmo Kovanen, Kivijärvi
As a sculptor Tarmo describes himself as “a jack-of-all-trades”: he likes to sculpt all kind of figures and more unusual sculptures are no problem for him. Improving and noticing improvement when sculpting is most rewarding thing for Tarmo. He sees that 3D-perception and good nerves are traits of a good sculptor.
He will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Volodymyr Kravchuk, Luxemburg (Ukraine)
Volodymyr has never been to Finland before, and he came across the Bear Festival on Facebook. Volodymyr has been making chainsaw sculptures for more than 15 years. He loves the forest and wants to use his art to bring a felled tree back to life in another form, to create a new story for it. Volodymyr especially enjoys making animal figures such as fish and birds.
He will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Kari Kulmala, Rääkkylä
Kari comes into the competition armed with the strengths he learned from his mother. “My mother was a logger and taught me how to use and repair a chainsaw.” Kari sees chainsaw sculpturing and ITE art as a unique type of Finnish folk art, one form of contemporary art. “Handling a chainsaw and an axe is relaxing and keeps me fit.”
Kari will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August.
Jari Kuokkanen, Iisalmi
Jari sculpts traditional forest animals such as birds and bears, and he has also carved human figures such as musicians Lemmy Kilmister and Juice Leskinen. Drawing was one of Jari’s hobbies when he was young, and he learned to use a chainsaw at an early age while working in the forest. His work is characterised by the use of lots of colours and added details made with paint.
In Ilomantsi he will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Leo Laakko, Orimattila
Leo was ten years old when he cut trees with a chainsaw borrowed without his parents’ knowledge. He became interested in sculpting in 2017 when he bought a pile of logs, and there were a couple of bigger trunks among them. “I wondered what I could make out of them and just started carving.” Leo’s favourite subjects are bears and owls. “The bear is a mystical forest animal and the owl an impressive bird.”
Leo will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Veikko Laakso, Liminka
Veikko says he’s an odd-job man when it comes to art: he works with snow, ice and wood. Veikko hasn’t been in wood sculpting competition before. He got excited to participate in bear sculpting competition when he was sculpting snow last winter in snow sculpting event. In the future, Veikko wants to create even more sculptures and open a shop for his art.
Veikko will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Aimo Laitinen, Oulu
Aimo is hooked on learning new things, which keeps him interested in chainsaw sculpting. His ambition in wood sculpting is the same as in his other favourite pastime, dancing, which is the expression of movement. This calm and composed man clearly has a Latin heart as his preferred dance is the rumba. The first time Aimo used a chainsaw for sculpting was on a course in spring 2017, during which he created a bear, an owl and a piglet.
He will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Toni Lindroos, Sastamala
Toni has been making chainsaw art for three years now: “Sculpting wood started to interest me and when I held the chainsaw first time, I knew that this is the form of art I want to focus on”. Sculpting animal sculptures is his favourite subject, but he’s handy with other themes too. Toni hasn’t participated in any sculpting competitions earlier, but was encouraged by his friends to join this year’s bear sculpting competition
He will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August.
Leo Löppönen, Savonlinna
Leo carves mostly animal figures. The most satisfying aspect in sculpting is when you see the results of your work and the hardest part is to make sure the sculpture looks lifelike. Leo has developed a method that allows him to make wooden surfaces have a furlike texture. “Sculptures made with this technique can be petted like real animals”. Leo thinks it is important that a sculptor has good hand-eye coordination and lots of patience.
Leo will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Timo Nevalainen, Pyhäsalmi
When Timo started woodcarving at the age of ten, he made wooden spoons and clubs and was encouraged by his family and neighbors to pursue his hobby. Timo discovered chainsaw sculpting in 1990. For him, sculpting is a way to stay fit, and it also exercises his brain as he plans his next piece. “What I find rewarding about carving is developing my skills and coming up with new ideas.”
Timo will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Marjukka Nio, Helsinki
Last year Marjukka got “bitten by the bear” when she was visiting the Bear Festival in her hometown Ilomantsi. She was inspired by the festival and really got into wood carving. Marjukka has been sculpting for 30 years and has focused in using clay as a material. “Last year I admired sculptors working with wood. Now it will be interesting to join in and enjoy the atmosphere of the Bear Festival as a contestant.”
She will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August.
Pekka Niskanen, Haapajärvi
Pekka’s family is known for sculpting skills as both his grandfather and father made wood carvings. Pekka has been carving since 2015 and has mainly created animals such as bears and dogs. “I think the bear is a popular subject because you don’t want to see one in the woods, but it’s a great decorative object as a wooden sculpture in your garden.”
In Ilomantsi, Pekka will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Kari Onninen, Lahti
Kari mainly sculpts bears, but he also likes sculpting objects such as motorcycles and airplanes. Kari thinks that every sculptor has a very different character, but they have one thing in common: “You have to be a bit mad to do this, it isn’t a very sensible hobby.” Kari sculpts almost every week, even in winter.
He will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Taisto Pehkonen, Lieksa
Taisto has created thousands of works over the decades. Even his woodshed is full of sculptures instead of firewood. When Taisto carves with a chainsaw, he has music playing in his ear pods – every time. There is no playlist, as he prefers to listen to the radio. Taisto likes sculpting animals as well as abstract subjects. “I like carving curves.”
Taisto will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Timo Peiponen, Karstula
Timo’s fascination with wood carving started in junior high school when he attended a woodworking class. The fascination didn’t end there – later he graduated as a carpenter. Timo thinks the most difficult aspect of carving a bear is to get the head and eyes just right. If he makes a mistake, he can come up with a creative solution: for example, accidentally cutting off a bear’s ear is not a problem as Timo can carve the bear to have floppy ear. Best thing in wood sculpting is that it’s a fun way to pass the time, he thinks.
He will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Teemu Porri, Äänekoski
Teemu works as log house builder. As a sculptor he is a beginner but in just half a year he has carved 50 works of art – bears, capercaillies and owls. Teemu is constantly learning new things about sculpting and he uses a variety of techniques when carving. Teemu hasn’t competed ever before so he is excited to take part in bear sculpting championship.
He will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August.
Jari Rantanen, Kangasala
Jari started chainsaw sculpting on a whim a few years ago when he was chopping firewood. “I got really excited about carving a simple bear, and it’s another nice hobby along with painting with acrylics and drawing.” He finds his inspiration from nature, people and culture. In chainsaw carving, Jari is fascinated by the element of surprise.
Jari will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Timo Teittinen, Juva
Timo always carves his sculptures outdoors, and he won’t be stopped even by the cold winter weather. For Timo, chainsaw sculpting is a way to relax, more than anything else. “Sculpting keeps my head together and my mind sharp. I’ve been making things with my hands all my life. It’s not for me to be sitting in a chair, reading the paper. I always have to be doing something.”
In Ilomantsi, Timo will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Markku Tuominen, Nurmijärvi
Markku makes sculptures not only from wood but also from sand and ice, and he also draws and paints. He often draws sketches of his wooden sculptures first. When Markku creates his art, his imagination is the only limit. He doesn’t have a favorite subject, but he sculpts just about everything: human figures, animals, reliefs, and texts.
Markku will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Ari Vähäkangas, Ylivieska
Ari got the sculpting bug about 20 years ago when he was working in a forest clearing. “The forester had left a long stump on the site. As I was drinking a cup of coffee, I was thinking about what I could do with it.” Ari’s favourite figure to sculpt is the bear, and that’s what the first log turned into. “Carving with a chainsaw is an interesting skill because you never know what kind of character will be revealed from inside the wood.”
Ari will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.
Tapio Vääräsmäki, Viitasaari
Tapio likes to carve animal figures and it’s his goal to make realistic representations both aesthetically and proportion-wise. “I particularly enjoy carving animal figures and it brings me joy create pieces of art that showcase my unique touch. The most challenging aspect in wood carving is to make sure the log doesn’t crack.”
Tapio will take part in the Bear Sculpting Championship on Thursday and Friday, 11th–12th August, as well as the Speed Sculpting Competition on Saturday, 13th August.