What started as a way to save a few bucks on a wooden sculpture for his wife turned into a full-time passion for retired U.S. Marine Joseph Gonzalez, Jr., who now spends his days transforming logs into impressive chainsaw-carved works of art.
Last May, while driving down Route 111 in Manorville, Gonzalez and his wife Amanda spotted a wooden bear at a roadside carving shop. But the $600 price tag made him think twice. “I laughed and told my wife, ‘We have logs, I have a chainsaw—let me give it a whirl,’” Gonzalez recalled.
The next day, he took out his chainsaw and carved his first work of art. Amanda loved it. Soon after, he made another and displayed it in his front yard. Within a week, a passerby asked if it was for sale. “I really didn’t know what to charge,” the newly minted wood carver said. “I wasn’t going to ask for $600, so when she offered $150, l thought that was great.”
From there, Gonzalez’s new hobby took off. The 20-year Marine veteran, who served tours in Afghanistan, Africa, and Fallujah as a Gunnery Sergeant, now spends his days carving full-time. He’s completed 74 pieces so far, selling 25, according to a carefully kept log book. His work includes everything from bears and eagles to elephants and whales, with prices far more affordable than his competitors.
“I keep my prices lower—$200 instead of $600—because I want people to enjoy these pieces,” he noted. The carver utilizes three different sizes of gas-fired saws for his work, depending on the intricacies of the operation.
A longtime Center Moriches resident, Gonzalez sources logs from local tree companies, often receiving massive wood deliveries for free. He works year-round, even in winter, crafting pieces in a makeshift carport workshop heated, naturally, by a wood stove.
His wife Amanda, an Air Force veteran, plays a key role in the business, handling the painting and finishing. Together, they turn raw logs—pine, poplar, oak—into eye-catching sculptures that customers proudly display in yards, porches, and even man caves.
Despite no formal training, Gonzales credits his background in carpentry and artistic instincts for his success. “I just see something, and if it resonates with me, I carve it,” he said.
With plans to expand into custom log furniture, Gonzalez shows no signs of slowing down. “It’s not work to me. It’s gratifying,” he said. “And I’ve never had someone take a piece home without a smile on their face.” To order a custom piece, contact the carver at 631-375-8544.