MARION — Water and wood chips both fell from the air as spectators gathered through rain to watch a particularly distinctive art demonstration May 18 outside the Marion Art Center.

As part of the ArtWeek SouthCoast festival, the Marion Art Center hosted chainsaw artist Evan Verissimo, who carves pieces of wood into animals, flowers and other sculptures.

For the presentation, Verissimo turned a log of pine tree into an owl. Other animals in Verissimo’s repertoire include bears, seahorses and eagles.

“I hope everyone is aware it’s going to get a little loud over here,” Verissimo told attendees as he set up for the demonstration.

A former arborist, Verissimo has worked full time as a chainsaw artist for a year, he said. He operates and sells commissioned and stock pieces through Acushnet-based Kind Tree Carving.

“I’m going to fire some saws up and let it rip for a second,” Verissimo said prior to his domain’s equivalent of putting pen to paper — putting the whirring teeth of a handheld gasoline- or electric-powered saw to wood.

Over the span of about an hour and half, Verissimo cut and carved into the log with different chainsaws as the shape of an owl emerged.

“I just go into my little zone,” Verissimo said when an attendee asked if it was strange to be watched by several people during the process.

Verissimo began carving wood with chainsaws in October 2022. To start out, he spoke with people in the industry and joined a Facebook group, he said.

“I’m still in the process of learning,” Verissimo said.

Verissimo will also be at the Marion Art Center’s “Arts in the Park” event in July, according to executive director Jodi Stevens.