Montana Man Crafts Amazing Art from Woodpile

Blocks of wood may mean hours of manual labor for some, but for Gary Tallman, 82, he sees them as the canvas for artwork. Tallman, of Monarch, MT, uses the natural colors of wood cut from the forest near his home to create an intricate, stunning mosaic. The piece depicts mountains, trees and owls, including one peeking from the ground.
Although each wooden mosaic takes about 20 hours to make—not including his preliminary sketches or the sorting of the wood’s various hues—the gorgeous creation is just temporary, lasting until the Tallmans need the wood in the winter.

Wood isn’t the only thing that doesn’t go to waste on the Tallman farm. He’s also created amazing sculptures from old car parts and a wooden stove.
Gary Tallman
Images: Courtesy of the Great Falls Tribune