KATE YORK The Marietta Times Lucas Pennington, of Nancy, Ky., works on a carving of the Marietta College Pioneer last week campus.

A tree destroyed by the emerald ash borer got a new purpose on the Marietta College campus recently, as the college commissioned an artist to carve the college mascot into the remaining 10-foot stump. Lucas Pennington, 41, of Nancy, Ky., spent three days last week on Butler Street, most with chainsaw in hand, creating the Pioneer, before heading off to a carving competition in Boonville, N.Y.

Question: Was the Pioneer the only design considered? Did you talk about anything else?

Answer: They wanted that pioneer. It’s their mascot.

Q: What did you think of that as the subject? Did you think it would be difficult?

A: I was looking forward to it.

Q: Is there anything tricky about it?

A: Well, the ash is as hard as concrete. It’s a hard wood. And anytime you’re doing a human form with an exaggerated head, like a bobblehead, it throws off the proportions.

Q: What did you have to do to get familiar with the Pioneer? What kind of preparation was there?

A: I looked at a lot of pictures. The mascot came and stood for me, too, so I could look at him and he’s supposed to come by again. I need help with the hat.

Q: How did you first get started in carving? Have you been doing it for a long time?

A: Eight years in all. I’m a Marine vet and I originally did it as therapy. I’ve done everything, job-wise, including buulding roads, cell phone towers. My work ethic is too strong to work for someone else. Now, I can work as hard as I want to work. I’m living the dream.

Q: In what ways is this therapeutic for you?

A: I get to create every day.

And I’m an (ambivert). Not an introvert and not an extrovert but in the middle. I like to be around people for so long and then like to seclude myself. Doing this, I can be by myself even if there are 200 people watching.

Q: Have you had a lot of people stop and watch you here?

A: There’s been a lot of stopping, a lot of thumbs up and a lot of people taking pictures. This will be a landmark. It will be here longer than you and me.

Q: How did you learn how to do this?

A: I grew up in Kentucky and was cutting firewood at age 12. The chainsaw is just a tool to get it done.

Q: What was the first carving you made? How did it turn out?

A: It was a bear…it’s always a bear. It was more bear than pig, so I was OK with it.

Q: Is there a big difference in your work between now and eight years ago?

A: Yes. I created the Sawbillies Carving Team with six people from all over the country. The way to be better is to surround yourself with the best and they always push themselves. We do a lot of competitions.

Q: Do you have a favorite subject to carve?

A: Eagles are my favorite–anything patriotic.

Q: Have you ever been commissioned to carve anything kind of strange?

A: I just did a 13-foot version of Michelangelo’s David in a half-million dollar subdivision. Everybody who goes in will see it.

Q: When you’re entered in a competition, do you get to choose what you carve?

A: A lot of them are themed. You usually do one 10-hour masterpiece.

Q: How long does a piece like this take?

A: We did about five hours on Monday, started at 10 (Tuesday) and (finished before noon Wednesday). I can go all day and do this.

Q: Does it get exhausting to be working with a chain saw for that long?

A: Sometimes but I’d rather do that than sit behind a desk.

Q: Do you do carvings all over the country?

A: Yes. Mostly it’s the east coast but I’ll be in Texas next month.

Q: Do you still do any carving just for fun?

A: You have to do that. I carve for myself. I have a cabin by the lake and I get the team out there and we all just smash trees. Then we just create.

Q: Do you expect this kind of tree and this piece to last a long time?

A: It should be here for a very long time. It’s the stuff they make railroad ties and baseball bats out of. I’ve never seen a baseball bat rot, have you?

Kate York conducted this interview.