Professional Artist & Wood Carver
T.J. "SawHorse" Harmon
From Greenwood, Indiana

A Hammer That Never Breaks & Axe That Never Dulls
Hello and thank you for visiting my website. Here you will get to learn a little more about me and my journey I have taken through the realm of art! Hope to see you again soon.
"Stay Sharp My Friends!"
"Heavy is the crown that weighs our soul and body down, as we walk through the fire and ice collecting scars along the way, THE HARD WAY..."
-T.J.H
He hung for 9 days, pierced by his own spear. On the world tree. Here he learned nine powerful songs and eighteen runes. He gave his right eye to acquire knowledge. He is the God of war, death, poetry & wisdom. Odin can make the dead speak to question the wisest amoung them. His hall in Asgard is Valaskjalf, ("Shelf of the slain") where his throne Hlidskjalf is located. From this throne he observes all that happens in the nine worlds.
My journey through this life started out amoungst the corn fields and country back roads of Greenwood, Indiana. It was there were my inner artist stirred and was born. I grew up building forts and playing sports and running wild through the woods and along every creek and pond bank I could find and explore. I knew at a very young age that art was a force deep inside me and I was constantly drawing and creating things . I love nature, music, realism, history and fantasy as they all inspire me when creating my works.
During high school I enrolled in a vocational school called Central Nine where I studied Building Trades and learned how to build houses. After graduating high school in June of 1997 I continued to frame houses for several years. I took a leap of faith and dove into the world of tattooing in 2005. After several years of learning from various artist I became a professional tattoo artist and made a living at it for close to ten years. In 2015 I felt the need to change my direction in the path my inner artist was going so I decided to go to culinary school for a couple years where I attended Ivy tech and enrolled in the culinary arts. After becoming a chef and working in the intense kitchens for a couple years I decided again that wasn't the path I wanted to stay on with my art. Don't get me wrong, I love cooking but enjoy doing it for my family and friends and not the masses! The daily pressure of that industry is insane and aside from being an artist it takes a very special kind of person to handle and perform in that kind of enviornment daily. After feeling like I had let myself down going through the culinary guantlet to find out it wasn't what I expected I was feeling low again and started to worry that my path in this life as an artist was falling farther from my grasp again.
Then one day while surfing around the web looking for job ideas and considering going back to the tattoo world I stumbled upon some pictures of chainsaw carvings and awesome sculpture work and thought man, I could do that!?? I think... So once again i'm diving head first into another adventure of art in the crazy world of chainsaw carving! Man I never looked back! Of all of the different forms of art I have done over the years this was it! Finally!, my calling!
I have now been carving for close to 5 years and will never look away from it. The first couple years were pretty rough and I contemplated hanging it up several times but kept hanging on and eventually started to figure things out. Aside from learning how to carve there is so much that is involved in becoming a chainsaw carver and it definitely doesn't happen over night! You have to learn a lot about the mechanical end of chainsaws and you can never learn all the secrets of keeping a chain sharp which is one of the most important factors. You also are a Logger and Lumberjack for a good part of the year gathering, organizing and processing all your timber and material. It also takes a couple years for your body to adjust to all of it physically. I remember when i first started I could barely get through one tank of gas without cramping and setting my saw down. Now I can carve from sun up to sun down without even thinking about it! Three years ago I started traveling and getting invited to carve in national events and competitions all around the country. I've carved in Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New York. I learned so much at the events watching and carving with other carvers from all over the country. This year in 2020 I decided to get really serious with my carving and start up an official business with it. So far things have been going very well and I have a lot of shows and events coming up in the very near future. If you are interested in my work please drop me a line! On this website my portfolio is where all of my finished inventory is and will be for sale. All you have to do is search through there and find the artwork you would like to purchase then email or call me and we will make payment arrangements. I typically like to make payment transactions through paypal but if that doesn't work for you there are several other options for payment. Shipping will be included in the price if local pick up is not a possibility. Shipping cost is generally $20 to $50 for most sculptures but if you are wanting something big like a bench or really large sculpture I do deliver out of state and will price the delivery charge accordingly to how far I have to travel. Check back periodically to view my portfolio where I will post new inventory on a monthly basis. As I do take custom orders those request are very limited throughout the year. I travel a lot and attend and carve in many events throughout the year so I am constantly trying to restock my inventory. I really like having and selling finished products from my inventory for the majority of my time and business because taking custom orders can become overwhelming and hard to fit in to the flow of my schedule so with that said I do take some orders for custom work here and there but I do choose those orders wisely and those slots are not always open but it never hurts to ask if you are wanting a custom piece created. Thanks for looking and stay in touch!
There's much to see here. So, take your time, look around, and learn all there is to know about my latest creations and adventures as well as upcoming events. I hope you enjoy the site and take a moment to drop me a line.
Art is in my DNA! I have studied and performed in many types and forms of art over the years. Some of my favorites are fine arts, culinary arts, sculpting arts & musical arts. To the left is a picture of me playing at "Kirk's House Of Rock!" in Biloxi, Mississippi back in 2002 with one of my old bands. I miss playing music with a band. The connection of the live show between us and the audience is an overwhelming experience and feeling! I Had so many good times playing live music over the years and even got the chance to open up for a few national acts along the road! I feel that the live performance of being a musician really helped the live carving scenario while performing or competing at chainsaw carving events. There are usually a lot of spectators that attend them and they are constantly looking at your work and over your shoulder as you carve watching every move of your saw so there is no room for being nervous or having stage fright if you want to be a professional chainsaw carver!
Wood is my main medium now a days through sculpting works and chainsaw carving. I do still like to get out the pencils, paints and charcoals to create fine art every now and then as well. Tattooing still haunts my mind as I miss laying down some ink and hope that one day I may be able to do some tattoo work again in the future. I also have a passion for creating knives as well and hope to put a line of my own on my website inventory one day in the near future.
One of my biggest inspirations is my family. They keep me on my toes and I'm very thankful and blessed to have them in my life. I am also heavily inspired by other Artist, musicians & Chefs amoungst the great realms of art. Frank Frazetta is one of my favorite artists. From a music standpoint Led Zeppelin is my all time favorite band. I'm also a huge fan of Chef Gordon Ramsey. I also deeply admire the great outdoors! I grew up hunting and fishing and have always been mesmerized by nature. I'm also a big fan of Troy Landry from Swamp People! Would love to meet that guy one day! My final and most important inspiration is God. Without him nothing is possible.
-INFORMATION ON TREATMENT & SEALING OF CARVINGS-
To make for a quality carving there is a process to treating or sealing the wood. For most applications I like to to use a good quality timber oil. This soaks into the wood well and protects it as well as really makes the grain beautifully stand out. I also on some applications like to use spar urethane and mineral spirits. Its a different look and finish but a solid go to finish process as well. Both of these products repel moisture and contain UV blockers as well as mold inhibitors that are very important in the life of your wood sculpture and even more so if it is going to be outdoors. for some indoor carvings and always on my hand carved cutting boards, spoons and bowls I use walnut oil and or food safe mineral oil.
Ridgeway, PA
Ridgeway, PA
Addison, Pennsylvania
Addison, Pennsylvania
The Marion County Fair. Indianapolis, IN
It's on people! come watch me carve live at the Marion County Fair in Indianapolis, IN June 19th-28th! I will be carving all nine days ...
The Marion County Fair. Indianapolis, IN
Greenwood, IN
Come out and enjoy the Christmas festivities with us in my hometown of Greenwood, Indiana this November 21st! It will be a fun and beautifu...
Greenwood, IN
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