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

Back in college, while studying illustration, Portland-based artist Brett Stenson spent most of his time hanging out with industrial design students. They’d stay up late watching 3D modeling tutorials, geeking out over clay figures, and even rewatching the old Wētā Workshop DVD about building The Lord of the Rings sets. That’s where his love for making things really started. At the time, he was obsessed with the world of vinyl toys and dreamed of creating his own, even though the learning curve felt huge.

But over time, his path shifted. “Wood always felt like the right fit for me,” he says. Unlike vinyl, wood carried something extra—warmth, texture, and history. He was drawn to handmade vintage pieces, the kind of objects that feel alive because of the hands that shaped them. That personal connection is what vinyl never gave him.

That’s when he turned to wood carving art as his way of bringing ideas to life. For Brett, carving isn’t just about making a sculpture—it’s about building something with meaning. His pieces sit somewhere between artisan craftsmanship and eco-friendly artwork, blending nature, storytelling, and design.

Now, his work stands out as handmade wooden sculptures and collectible art pieces that carry both tradition and modern creativity. Perfect for anyone who loves custom home decor, sustainable art, or handmade art collectibles that feel timeless but still fresh.

Back in 2018, Brett Stenson took a wood carving workshop at Wildcraft, a studio school in Portland. That’s where he first learned how to make Norse-style Christmas ornaments—and honestly, it changed everything for him. “I realized that if I could draw something, I could carve it,” he says. The tools, the hands-on work, even the thought of being one of those old-timers hanging around woodworking shops—it all felt right, and it felt personal.

He started out simple, carving blocks of timber with just a basic knife. But pretty quickly, he upgraded his tools to speed things up and refine his style. He also added clay modeling to his process—sculpting figures in a softer material before moving them into wood. A lot of his early pieces were woodland animal carvings—bears, foxes, birds—often holding fish, flowers, or other little details. Each one carried personality, like a fox with a sly grin or a bear proudly holding its fresh catch. That’s the magic of his handmade wooden sculptures—they tell stories without saying a word.

Lately, his art has gone in a more personal direction. After losing his beloved dog, Brett began exploring heavier themes. His carvings now include retro tech—old TVs, satellite dishes, vintage computers, outdated communication gear. For him, these pieces symbolize connection and loss. “We’ve built all these tools to reach each other,” he says, “but we still can’t reach the afterlife.”

That mix of nostalgia, grief, and craftsmanship makes his work stand out. For anyone into artisan wood carving art, sustainable artwork, or collectible wooden art with meaning, Brett’s pieces hit on both beauty and emotion. They’re not just decor—they’re stories carved in wood, blending nature, memory, and human connection.