For Kashechewan's Jason Koosees, wood carving is more than a hobby.
“It takes away things that bother you. When you carve, while you’re concentrating on your carving, it takes away the stress,” he says. “I just like doing it."
Koosees, 43, is an artist and a woodcarver.
He first started drawing at the age of 15. Using a pencil, resin and a photo for reference, his first portrait was of Axl Rose from Guns N’ Roses.
It wasn't until 2009 when he started drawing again. At that time, he also started working as a full-time security guard at a nursing clinic. He says he would bring his drawing books and pencils with him to work and would draw using pencils, pens, ink as well as with water or coloured pencils.
“That’s how I started. First, because I was bored and then I started making a little bit of money from drawing portraits,” he recalls.
He doesn't draw anymore and the last time he drew was in 2016. About a year later, Koosees quit his full-time job to start carving wood as he says he can make more money selling carvings than paintings.
“Plus, I like to be a boss on my own. Not having to worry about getting to work, being on time.”
As a self-taught woodcarver, Koosees says he is still learning every day. The only time he doesn't carve is in winter when it’s too cold or when he is busy with other work like hauling wood.
To find cedar logs for his artwork, he usually takes his boat and goes out with his 22-year-old son to look for logs along the river.
Koosees says he used to work out of a 12-by-12 shed but now has a semi-trailer outside his house which he uses as a workshop and as a storage.
Last year, he made a 43-inch full-size bald eagle which took him two months to finish. The body was first burned and sanded down. The head and the tail were painted with acrylic, while the beak and the legs were painted with coloured pencils. The finished eagle was then bought by a local school board, Koosees says.
Drawing inspiration from surrounding nature, Koosees’ work features moose, wolves, flying geese and a mix of wolves and eagles. He also made a wood-burning portrait of his daughter that is now hanging in his living room.
Depending on the work, if it's a full-body piece, he can use one log, while for a 3D carving, he can use up to five log slabs.
“I like wolves, eagles. I’m still planning to carve other animals like bears,” he says adding he also wants to try carving people’s faces and moose antlers.
“I’ve never carved moose antlers in my life before so that’s the other thing I wanted to try a few years back. I have a few of them but I never got around to try it out.”
When he works, he pays attention to details and usually takes breaks from the project, so depending on the piece, it can take weeks or months to finish the work.
When he’s finished, he also likes to see natural colours brought out in the carving.
"Plus, I can make money out of it," he says. "First, it was a hobby. Now, I look at it as my job.”
You can see his art and contact Koosees on Facebook.
