Last February, Shadrach White’s neighbor in Fernan Lake Village was killed when a pine tree fell on his home during a windstorm. White heard the tree come down around 3 a.m. and witnessed the devastation the following day.

When White moved to central Coeur d’Alene in June, he was concerned about two large ponderosa pines on the property. Although he admired the trees’ majesty, he knew they posed a safety hazard because of their shallow root systems and the western winds that blew through them in the direction of his house.

“All I could see was that tree coming down, right in the middle of my shop,” White said.

White hired Specialty Tree Services to remove the pines at the end of June. However, he wanted to honor one of the trees in his backyard, which was more than 100 years old, 120 feet tall and had a circumference of 9 feet. He asked Specialty Tree Services to leave 11 feet of the trunk standing and hired local artist Karl Juzeler to turn it into a sculpture.

For design inspiration, White’s girlfriend prompted ChatGPT to create a whimsical bear sculpture concept. They liked the idea of three bear cubs sneaking a taste of honey while mama bear was away. They shared the concept with Juzeler and encouraged him to use it as a framework while making his own artistic choices.

“I just said to have artistic freedom, give these bears the personality you think they need to have,” White said. “And he created an amazing piece of art.”

Juzeler began working on the sculpture in early August and completed it after six days of intensive work. After removing the bark, he drew the sculpture’s outline on the trunk with log crayons. He then blocked out the basic shapes before shaping and smoothing the details.

Throughout the process, he used nine different chain saws, along with a variety of Dremel tools and sanders. He used an airbrush to create the shiny texture of the honey and a blowtorch to create the texture of the bark.

“I just think it’s really cool to get to use the same tools that are usually used to take a tree apart, and use them to actually create something within the tree,” Juzeler said.

Juzeler has an intuitive understanding of his medium, having previously worked with Curtis Point Tree Service trimming and removing trees. He created his first wood sculpture in 2021 after removing trees from his own property and finding himself with extra wood on his hands.

“I thought, what am I gonna do with all this wood?” Juzeler said. “So I was just dinking around, and I made a little bear for my mom for Christmas.”

Soon, Juzeler’s friends and neighbors were clamoring for carvings of their own. Word of his talent spread through word of mouth and his Facebook page, @Fallen Pine Carvings. With his children going off to school, Juzeler now has time to pursue wood carving full time.

“I feel like I always had an eye for detail,” Juzeler said. “I was always drawn to raw materials. I just like hands-on work.”

White was overjoyed with the result, and the two men became friends during the carving process.

“It was hot. I kept bringing him Gatorades and water,” White said with a laugh. “I thought, we’ve got to keep this guy hydrated or he’s gonna die out there!”

White has big plans for the property, which he intends to turn into a rental home and event venue. His spacious workshop features a pool table and artwork by DeVon Stanfield and Carol Meason. He plans to transform the yard into a whimsical, relaxing retreat with fruit trees and Zen-inspired landscaping. Juzeler’s sculpture will serve as the centerpiece.

“It was a beautiful tree, but it was a hazard,” White said. “Now it gets to have another 100 years and bring great enjoyment to the people who visit.”

    Karl Juzeler at the beginning of the carving process in early August, in Shadrach White’s backyard.
      Karl Juzeler early in the carving process in Shadrach White’s backyard in August.