Carving out a niche
Lincoln City carver creates some of the coolest sculptures you ever saw
By Gretchen Ammerman
Oregon Coast TODAY
For years, my husband and I have passed by large wood sculptures of a whale tail and a pelican in the front yard of one of our neighbors and commented how much we like them.
I have come to learn that they are the work of local carver James Lukinich and his work, well, it’s all over the place.
From creating the charming oversized sculpture at the north end of West Devils Lake Road, whimsically covered in just about every plant, bird and animal species that defines the Pacific Northwest, to the many, many smaller sculptures adorning yards all over Lincoln City and far beyond, James is one of the area’s most prolific and popular artists.
“We have a pretty long list of locations where people can drive around and see his work,” said James’ wife and business partner Marilyn Lukinich. “His work is also included in the Lincoln City Art Tour.”
After trying to maintain a storefront for a short time, James found a piece of property on Highway 18 near Otis where he can both carve and entertain visitors that would like to commission a carving or simply see him in action.
“Look for the new sign at his workshop and stop in and say hello if it says ‘Open,’” Marilyn said. “There is also a rhinoceros sculpture near the road that people can keep an eye out for, but the sign will be a better way to tell if he’s there.”
James, a Western Oregon native, spent nearly a decade logging in southeast Alaska, where he taught himself how to carve during his free time with hand tools and the abundant chainsaws available in the logging camps. Unlike many carvers, who use lightweight saws, James still prefers using the heavy saws that he practiced with during that time.
Since 2009, he has entered, and won awards, in competitions including the Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Carving Championship in Reedsport.
“If you’re a carver you want to be in that show,” he said. “They bring carvers from all over the world including Europe and Japan for it. It’s literally the best of the best. I’ve won plenty of top ten awards there, including fifth place out of almost 50 carvings.”
Unless he grows attached to it, anything that doesn’t sell at the competition will be for sale later.
“Last year I created a sculpture of turtles that was purchased for a hotel in Lincoln City, Sailor Jack’s Oceanfront Inn,” he said. “The owner saw it and had to have it, and then bought another one I made of seahorses.”
A few of the pieces created at this year’s competition will be on display and for sale at the Cultural Center Summer Art Festival, happening on Aug. 3 and 4.
“We also donate carvings for the raffle which helps them with the cost of putting that on,” Marilyn said. "James gives back so much, it’s remarkable. We both believe strongly in supporting the community.”
Though the bulk of James’ carvings end up in homes in Oregon, his reach has continued to grow. His work will now be seen as far away as Guam, where he recently snagged a commission to create a mermaid for a Home Center.
A business closer to home, the Searenity Boutique at the Marketplace at Salishan, has a very special carving by James.
“We have a book club so I thought it would be cool to have a carving for it,” Owner Jen Lee said. “He made the cutest bear reading a book and we had a naming contest for her. One person submitted the name ‘Paige Turner’ and I knew that was the winner instantly. James did such an incredible job on her and people comment on it all the time.”
Primarily working on commissions, James is still able to carve some time for freestyling.
“When I go freestyle, I never know what I’m going to carve, the wood tells me what it wants to be,” he said. “I was recently working on what started as a dolphin and it ended up turning into a koi fish.”
But years of work have made him attuned to the wood he chooses for a design that is particularly requested.
“I have a wood yard in Sheridan so if people ask for something specific I have hundreds of pieces to choose from,” he said. “It’s really nice for someone to be able to talk to me in person and see me work if they are considering a piece, especially a personal one.”
Shortly after making this comment, as if on cue, a woman pulled into the driveway of the new property where James and I were talking to request a commission to honor her husband, a military veteran who had recently passed away. I quietly made my leave.
The outdoor carving studio is located at 1574 Hwy. 18. For more information or to set up an appointment, call 619-916-8459.