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Tromans makes fast work with chainsaw in hand

Amazing creations continually garnering attention, including international carving competition
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The bear necessities are brought to life in some of Liam Tromans’ carvings. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Liam Tromans carved his niche in the woods as a logger for more than 25 years. He now carves amazing artwork out of wood.

Tromans, 53, has been a resident of Chemainus for the past two and a half years so his world famous chainsaw craft is just another means for putting the town on the map.

Born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Tromans gave up logging in 2013, but working with wood in a different way is now his forte. He began carving at work sites in 2000 using self-taught chainsaw techniques and now does it on a fulltime basis at his Chemainus Road home and during demos at Mountain Peak Creations on the Trans Canada Highway, turning wood into masterpieces that are a cut above the industry standard instead of doing clear-cuts.

The more Tromans tinkered with carving in the woods, the more intriguing it became to him and the creative juices really started flowing. He even carves larger than life Sasquatches, something you don’t see every day unless you’ve noticed one in the back of his truck around Chemainus.

“I always dabbled with it,” conceded Tromans. “It was just my hobby till I came out here.”

The skills he’s developed worked hand in hand with other artistic abilities.

“I sketched and painted a lot when I was younger,” he indicated. “The carving seemed to come natural.”

Liam and wife Jude, who’ve been married 18 years, were somewhat familiar with Vancouver Island already before making the big move here from across the country.

“The weather’s a big thing that brought us here,” conceded Liam.

Jude came out first, found a job in Nanaimo and looked around at different places before they settled on this area.

An instant connection was made with Mountain Peak’s Danny Peterson in the same trade.

“I came there on the weekends and I work here (at home) during the week,” Tromans explained. “It works well for me. I get a place to carve and he gets some variety, too.

“Sometimes I might go on the road and take some carvings with me.”

Tromans has also encountered several others in the business of carving.

“That’s another reason I came out here,” he said. “There’s a lot of people who do the same thing.”

Tromans can carve just about anything out of any block of wood, ranging from the unexpected like the Sasquatch to all types of bears, dogs and an abundance of eagles.

Eagles are his best sellers. “I’ve carved thousands of eagles, but I’m still learning,” Tromans observed. “Everybody carves differently. One person might carve the beak a certain way.”

A large lion head at the top of his driveway is carved out of Douglas fir, but most of his creations are done from cedar or red cedar.

“It’s nice and soft for carving,” explained Tromans. “It holds an edge.”

The colour is also appealing, but he varnishes or paints many of his carvings for a completely different look.

“Sometimes the wood kind of dictates what’s going to be in there,” he added. “You go with the flow sometimes.

“Sometimes the flow of the grain will direct you which way to go. Sometimes they come out better that way, too.”

The competition circuit is also big in chainsaw carving and Tromans hit the big-time last year during an international event in Germany. The Team Canada contingent of Tromans, Robbin Wenzoski from Southern Ontario and Joel Palmer from New Brunswick took first place.

Tromans is going back to Germany soon for another crack at international glory.

“It’s a fun time,” he said. “They take good care of you.”

Tromans also made a claim to fame during an International Logger Sports competition in Powell River with a first-place finish last year and second at another event in Gold River.

“To place is just a bonus,” observed Tromans. “You look at the carvings, everyone can win.”

The piece he did in Powell River of two eagles fighting in mid-air is going into the new library there.

“I was kind of proud of that,” Tromans confessed. “It’s going into a new building.”

The trade keeps him going and especially with his name becoming more well-known in these parts. It’s usually slower for him in the winter months up until March, but then he utilizes the time to work on commission projects.

Tromans gets all sorts of requests for pieces, including one of a bear playing a saxophone. He’s always ready for what might be coming next.

“It’s always evolving,” Tromans noted, “and you pick up pointers wherever you go.”

One thing he’d like to try sometime, but hasn’t happened yet is a killer whale carving. “It’s just a matter of finding the right piece of wood,” Tromans indicated.

He often thinks back to those days working in the woods in isolated locations compared to what he’s doing now.

“I never thought my chainsaw could take me traveling around.”

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Liam Tromans works his carving magic, above. The bear necessities are brought to life, right, in some of Tromans’ carvings. Below, he even does some special pet projects. (Photos by Don Bodger)
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Creatures abound at Liam Tromans’ Chemainus Road home. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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Liam Tromans even does some special pet projects. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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Liam Tromans can make something out of just about anything, tree roots and all. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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Larger than life creations like this sasquatch carving are part of Liam Tromans’ forte. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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Liam Tromans always has the back of the truck loaded up for special deliveries. (Photo by Don Bodger)
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Liam Tromans’ workshop is busier than Santa’s on Christmas, with numerous projects always on the go. (Photo by Don Bodger)


Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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