About

Tradition and Skill Meet Nature's Beauty

WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE, hosted by creative couple Peter and Veronica (veterinarian and writer).

Artisan woodcarver Peter Scheunert came from Germany 25 years ago, leaving behind a successful career in the corporate world to live the rugged life in an outpost of the pioneer spirit: the small community of Rosswood in northern British Columbia. His work with wood began at the age of thirteen when he apprenticed at the family's furniture factory. His first artistic carvings, Greek and Venetian masks, were inspired by his travels in Europe just prior to settling in Canada. With time Peter developed his personal style: bowls in the shape of a heart, a bear paw, a canoe, and a salmon. He makes the occasional piece as a special order, his latest being a six-foot-tall totem pole inspired by the Tsimshian tradition. Peter's brand is named after the white spirit bear of the northern forests.

The Pacific Northwest of Canada has long been a source of inspiration to artists working in any medium. In this case, the substrate is provided by nature herself through trees that grow in harsh conditions close to the Alaskan border. Peter never cuts down living trees and uses only deadfall or wood salvaged from slash piles. The beauty of the wood is revealed through a process founded on Old World traditions, customized techniques and tools, and a pinch of madness that can only be carried off with Peter's skill level. While Peter finishes the surfaces of his carvings by hand, the first step--cutting out the rough shapes--is done with a chainsaw. Many a time has he come home triumphantly declaring that yet another day has gone by without any toes or entire limbs lopped off, an important measure of success for a carver. We hope you enjoy the finished pieces, but no part of Peter's creative process should be tried at home or anywhere at all. The bush where he hunts for wood is patrolled by grizzly bears, and a quick look at his hands says that cutting tools can and do bite...

KERMODE CARVER

Peter J. Scheunert,

Old World transplant living the Canadian dream