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QUIN BUCHANAN —  FREEFORM ARTIST

Quin has lived most of his life in the Hokianga where his interest in working with wood began and has blossomed. When aged 10, Quin dabbled a little with woodturning on his fathers lathe set up on an earth floored rustic shed on the Hokianga Harbours' edge.  The wood he was using at this stage was head kauri left from pioneer milling days.  Quin and his father retrieved these using 100 year old logging timber-jacks and a clinker rowing dingy to float the logs from the waters edge back to the beach by their home, where they were milled by chainsaw. 

Joining the Ancient Kauri Kingdom team as a freeform artist

After leaving school and building for five years, Quin joined the team at Ancient Kauri Kingdom in the freeform department.  His work there involved making small craft items through to the building of artistically styled dining tables and massive wooden couches carved from the root systems of Ancient Kauri.

Chainsaw carving recognition

In 2002 Quin entered the novice section of a major chainsaw carving event in the Far North his talent was recognized with a first placing.  Quin then decided to compete in the professional chainsaw carving events through the North Island, including the Mystery Creek and National Woodskills Festival events and has consistently been placed amongst the top three place getters.

Commissioned works

Quin was recently commissioned, along with talented female carver Debra Lloyd to carve a cattle drover and his dog by the Broadwood community.  This huge carving in macrocarpa is on permanent display in the town centre.

Amongst Quin's ambitions are the desires to expand his technical skills, develop his design concepts and express his creativity in the material he enjoys so much - wood.