By Kate Bartlett
Scott Dow is a Marine Corp veteran and mixed media artist in Corry Pennsylvania. Throughout his career, he has been a tattoo artist, painter, bronze caster, marble and stone sculptor, furniture designer, and now chainsaw artist. As a well-versed artist in many media of the art realm, Scott has an appreciation for many various art forms, but finds his inspiration in the textures and shapes in nature.
As a native to the Pennsylvanian countryside, Scott grew up immersed in nature. He always had an affinity for art and drawing, sketching whenever he had a chance. “As a kid, I was always drawing,” recalls Scott. “My sister would find me drawing shark heads on gum wrappers. I drew almost every chance I could.”
Scott was interested in the arts throughout High School, but enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduation. He earned an honorable discharge after 2 years, when he applied to arts school at Edinboro University. “I loved it right from the start, and I remember thinking, this is what I should have been doing all along.”
He graduated with a BA in painting and drawing and an MFA in figurative sculpture and a deep appreciation for the arts. “I learned so much throughout my college career. I was exposed a wide array of art forms and gained experience with clay modeling, mold making, plaster and bronze casting, metal fabrication and so many various conceptual discussions.”
After college, Scott worked as a furniture designer for a European company for over 15 years, all whilst keeping art as a hobby on the side. “I was always dabbling in something, whether it be sculpting, drawing, or painting, I loved creating art and exploring different medias.” It wasn’t until his wife, Jen, casually mentioned wooden statues she saw carved from wood that Scott considered chainsaw carving.
As soon as he picked up the chainsaw, he was in love. “I loved everything about the chainsaw,” recalls Scott. “The power behind it, the design it imprinted on the wood, the rough edges…I was so inspired, and I still am.” Scott loves working with wood, and the ease of finding the material. “The abundance of wood makes it easy to create. I love how every piece of wood is different; the grain, the size, the thickness and density. I may start with a vision, but the wood frequently dictates the evolution of the design, taking form as the art is created.”
Scott’s sculpting background gave him a deep appreciation for the chainsaw. “I love how fluid the movements are with the chainsaw. It’s amazing to watch the art take form, one step at a time.”
He set up his own shop on Route 6 in Corry and began selling his creations. When diagnosed with cancer in 2011, he decided to quit his full-time job and focus on what made him feel most alive: creating art. “Standing in the face of a diagnosis can make you reevaluate your life decisions. I decided to quit wasting time, and fully live my life doing what I love most.”
Scott immersed himself fully in the arts. “It was an adjustment getting used to the seasons and the fluctuation in business. “Summers tend to be busy and winters slower, but I learned to adjust and plan accordingly.”
Scott took every opportunity that came along to learn new techniques. He learned new processes and different tools, exploring anything that indulged his creativity. “Every log that came in was a new opportunity.” He brought his pieces to local events and shows, networking with other artists and building connections in the community.
Scott has competed on the international and national stage, winning the US Open in 2012 and competed in the Blockhausen Husky Cup in Germany on an American team in 2012, and 2014. In May of 2023 he traveled to the Husky Cup again to collaborate with Bob King in the Masters of the Masters’ Competition. He has also been awarded a star on the chainsaw carving walk of fame in Germany.
Recently, Scott envisioned a wooden bar top table with a crocodile head carved in the wood. “I followed my creativity and just started creating this piece that was in my head.” His daughter posted it on Instagram (something Scott had never heard of), it went viral gaining over 18 million views. Since then, Scott has created hundreds of projects like this, sculpting various 3D elements (animals, skeletons, objects) on wooden bars and table tops.
Currently, Scott takes on out about 24 of these projects per year, leaving some time to dabble in his own creative ideas. “I’m most inspired by the project that’s right in front of me, watching it take form and a life of it’s own as it’s created.” His creations have become so successful, that he’s designed his own equipment and tools (with the help of his ‘smart’ friends) to be more adept and efficient with his work.
Scott does not take his success for granted, and is incredibly thankful for the support of his family and friends. “I’m so thankful that my works have been so embraced by the community. I’m blessed to be able to do what I love.”
As always, Scott plans to take on whatever happens next, watching his art and life unfold one thing at a time. “One thing leads to another, in life and in art. I’m looking forward to just continuing along this path, creating art for the community and following my creative outlets.”
For more information and to view Scotts impressive gallery (especially the viral Crocodile) visit https://www.scottdowart.com/ and follow on Soci