LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky man is creating extraordinary sculptures with just his chainsaw. That man is Eastern Kentucky native Harley Dougherty.

“I used to build custom furniture, and I liked the hand carving part on it and ball and claw type of thing and that required chisel work,” Dougherty said.

Since then, Dougherty has turned his passion into a full-time job. For 17 years, Dougherty has traveled across the country creating extraordinary wood sculptures with just his chainsaw.

For 17 years Harley Dougherty has been creating wood sculptures like this wooden soaring eagle. (Spectrum News 1/Erin Wilson)

“I just got hooked on it because here we got a blank tree, blank canvas, I got done with it and we’ve got something that resembles something,” Dougherty said.

From bears to dragons to his most recent work, a bald eagle flying through the mountains. Dougherty will take on just about any project as long as it meets his number one rule: It must be family friendly.

“I’ve carved every animal except for maybe an odd ball thing like a schult. A schult is in the mink family, but I’ve done martins, minks, beavers. If it’s native, I’ve carved it,” Dougherty said. 

Often covered in sawdust after a long day’s work, you’ll always find Dougherty right where he belongs, with a chainsaw in hand.

“One of the things is what we do. You practice and you practice and practice but the main fact of it is, it’s a God-given gift,” Dougherty said.

It’s a gift that keeps on giving.

“It’s neat to hear them all excited and it ain’t even done yet and I’m like, if they like it now, they’re gonna love it when it’s done,” he said.

Dougherty’s wood sculptures have become so popular that he is booked with clients into the next few months. Dougherty’s next project will be in Shelbyville, where he will sculpt a combination of animals including an eagle, bobcat, fox and owl.