Brett Stenson’s Hand-Carved Wood Sculptures Spark Emotion and Wonder

While studying illustration in college, Portland-based artist Brett Stenson spent a lot of time with industrial design students, diving into how things are made. “We stayed up late watching 3D modeling tutorials, talking about clay figures, and rewatching the Wētā Workshop DVD on how they built The Lord of the Rings sets,” he shares. Stenson was especially inspired by the world of vinyl toys and dreamed of creating his own—even though it seemed hard to learn.

Over time, his focus shifted toward more hands-on materials. “Wood always felt like the right fit for me,” he says. He was deeply attracted to handmade vintage pieces, the kind of objects that carry history, warmth, and personal touch. While vinyl looked cool, it didn’t give him the same emotional connection. That’s when he began to explore wood carving as a way to bring his creative ideas to life through natural, meaningful craftsmanship.

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In 2018, Brett Stenson took a wood carving workshop at Wildcraft, a studio school in Portland. There, he learned how to make Norse-style Christmas ornaments—and it changed everything. “I realized that if I could draw something, I could carve it,” he says. The tools, the hands-on process, and even the dream of becoming one of those old-timers browsing woodworking stores—it all felt right and deeply personal.

He started carving with a basic knife, shaping blocks of timber. But soon, he upgraded his tools to speed up the process. He also added clay modeling to his workflow, sculpting animals and figures in a softer material before moving to wood. Much of his work focuses on woodland creatures like bears, foxes, and birds—often shown holding fish or flowers. These figures express emotion through their posture and charm, like a fox with a clever smile or a proud bear showing off its fresh catch.

Recently, Stenson’s work has taken a more personal turn. After the loss of his beloved dog, he began exploring new themes. His carvings now include retro technology—old TVs, satellite dishes, computers, and outdated communication gear. He sees these as symbols of our desire to stay connected, even with those who’ve passed. “We’ve created all these tools to reach each other,” he says, “yet we still can’t reach the afterlife.”

In addition to his personal art, Stenson works as the Senior Art Director at Young Jerks, a Brooklyn-based branding and packaging design studio known for its creative campaigns and visual storytelling.See more work on his website and Instagram, and find screen prints for sale in his shop.