How it's made
I begin with kiln dried, rough lumber.
The core is a hollow stack lamination.  A cardboard template guides me as I arrange the blocking.
Legs from 4 inch thick lumber are positioned where they will go.
The legs are fastened to the core by double mortise and tenon joinery
Next I glue on blocking for the toes and carve the feet.
The bench is assembled and ready to carve. When I look at this ungainly block, I wonder if I can do it.
All the square corners need to be removed just to get a sense of how the bears will look.
I do much of the rough shaping with a chain saw toothed disc on my bench grinder.
My hands are the perfect measuring tool to make sure the face is symmetrical
A pattern of lines and shadows form the image of a bear. I mark these on the roughed out bench, and carve them.
I use a round bottomed spoke shave to texture the carved surfaces, mimicking fur.
The nose and eyes are colored black, the body is stained white, and it’s ready for the finish. I use a catalyzed varnish, sprayed on.