When it comes to trees, Alberta carpenter Larry Wozney has a pretty simple philosophy: imperfection is beautiful.
After retiring from the oil industry more than a decade ago, Wozney decided to pursue a new calling. So, with little knowledge of woodworking, he bought a sawmill.
After many years of trial and error, the self-taught carpenter has honed his craft, discovered an affinity for gnarly, misshapen slabs of wood and has begun taking custom orders for his one-of-a-kind furniture.
“It’s a whole new world,” Wozney told CTV News. “There is no limit, just your imagination.”
His woodshop is set up at his Edmonton-area home and backs onto a forest. Wozney often heads into the woods in search of possibilities.
“I stumbled upon the monster poplars that our settlers planted that are dying now. Jack pines that have met their life cycle and they’re going, and I just can’t let them go to waste,” he said. “They’re so unique. They are character pieces -- every one of them.”
The trees that attract Wozney come in many shapes and sizes. He prefers pieces that are overlooked, such as wood left over from a fire or an old tree nearing the end of its life.
Once he’s found the right piece of wood, Wozney saws it into a shape that helps bring out its unique character and charm.
“Every piece is different,” he says.
He’s learned from scratch how to build a variety of types of furniture, from benches to beds to a luxurious outhouse complete with its own porch.
Wozney has come to love each step in the process, and he now looks at trees from an entirely new perspective.
“One day I hope to be able to use this tree to make something,” he says, patting a thick trunk behind his home.
For anyone aspiring to take up the craft themselves, Wozney has a piece of sage advice.
“You gotta be a bit artsy, no doubt about it.”
With a report from CTV News Alberta Bureau Chief Janet Dirks
